Buyer Planner – Manufacturing

Buyer Planner - Manufacturing

Job Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire

Location: Marietta, OH

Travel: Up to 10% for supplier visits and trade shows

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Buyer Planner to manage material purchasing and production planning for manufactured and assembled electromechanical products. This role is responsible for keeping materials flowing from purchase order through receiving, inventory, assembly, and shipment.

The ideal candidate understands both the buying and planning sides of supply chain and has hands-on experience working in an ERP/MRP environment. This is not an administrative order-entry position; the Buyer Planner will support an assigned production line and help ensure materials are available when needed.

Products may include Power Distribution Cabinets (PDCs), Static Transfer Switches (STS), Remote Power Panels (RPPs), and Medium/Low Voltage Switchgear assemblies.

Key Responsibilities

Purchasing & Supplier Coordination

• Create and manage purchase orders for electrical and electromechanical components.
• Purchase materials such as wires, cables, energy meters, bus bars, circuit breakers, contactors, transformers, enclosures, cable assemblies, and switchgear components.
• Execute purchasing activities using established supplier pricing and agreements.
• Identify and qualify suppliers based on engineering requirements, lead times, quality, and supply needs.
• Monitor supplier performance, including delivery timing, quality, and lead-time compliance.
• Use spot buys and blanket purchase orders when appropriate for standard and engineered materials.
• Monitor potential supply risks, including long-lead, sole-source, and single-source components.
• Coordinate with suppliers to resolve purchasing and delivery issues.
• Support supplier development and sourcing activities, including domestic and international suppliers.

Material Planning & MRP

• Use ERP/MRP systems to review demand, calculate material requirements, and plan purchases around production schedules.
• Maintain accurate item information, including lead times, safety stock, minimum order quantities, and reorder points.
• Monitor inventory to maintain production supply while controlling excess material.
• Identify shortages and expedite critical components when necessary.
• Coordinate material availability with production schedules and customer delivery requirements.
• Understand the complete material flow from purchase order → receipt → put-away → picking → assembly → shipping.
• Perform cycle counts and inventory reconciliations and investigate discrepancies.
• Maintain accurate supply chain and ERP data.

Production & Engineering Support

• Work closely with production scheduling, engineering, quality, logistics, receiving, and sales.
• Support new product introductions (NPI), engineering changes (ECOs), and bill of materials (BOM) accuracy.
• Help resolve material issues affecting production and delivery schedules.
• Coordinate with quality teams regarding supplier corrective actions, non-conforming materials, and first-article inspections.
• Track inbound shipments and work with receiving teams to resolve delivery discrepancies.
• Provide material availability and supply-risk information for customer delivery concerns.
• Participate in SIOP meetings and production readiness reviews.

Reporting & Process Improvement

• Monitor supply chain performance metrics such as:
  • Purchase Price Variance (PPV)
  • Supplier On-Time Delivery (SOTD)
  • Inventory turns
  • Material shortages
  • Identify opportunities to improve purchasing, planning, inventory, and material flow processes.
  • Support cost-reduction and supplier improvement initiatives.
  • Contribute to Lean Manufacturing and Kaizen activities.
  • Promote accurate and effective use of ERP/MRP systems.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of buyer/planner experience in a manufacturing or assembly environment.
• Demonstrated experience purchasing and planning materials for manufactured or assembled products.
• Experience purchasing electrical, electronic, or electromechanical components, including wires, cables, energy meters, breakers, bus bars, enclosures, or similar components.
• Strong working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems, such as SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Epicor, Infor, or similar platforms.
• Understanding of MRP logic, demand planning, material requirements, and production flow.
• Ability to manage materials from purchasing through receipt and production.
• Ability to read and understand engineering drawings, BOMs, and technical specifications.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including PivotTables, VLOOKUP, and supply/demand analysis.
• Strong organization and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and resolve material issues under deadlines.
• Ability to work on-site in a manufacturing environment; remote work is not available.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• APICS certification or qualifications, including CPIM or CSCP, highly preferred.
• Experience with power distribution, electrical switchgear, UPS, or critical power equipment.
• Familiarity with PDCs, STS units, RPPs, panelboards, and MV/LV switchgear assemblies.
• Knowledge of UL, ANSI, IEC, NEMA, and NEC standards applicable to power distribution equipment.
• Experience with Lean/Six Sigma or other continuous improvement methods.
• Supplier development and international sourcing experience, including Asia, Mexico, or Europe.
• Familiarity with customs and import requirements for electrical components.
• ISM C.P.M. or CPSM certification.

Core Skills

• Purchasing & Material Planning
• ERP/MRP Systems
• Demand Planning
• Inventory Management
• Supplier Management
• Production Scheduling
• Electrical/Electromechanical Components
• BOM & Engineering Documentation
• Excel & Data Analysis
• Problem Solving
• Cross-Functional Coordination
• Continuous Improvement

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Work is primarily performed in a manufacturing and assembly facility.
• Exposure to moderate shop-floor noise, electrical equipment, and industrial materials.
• Frequent computer use for ERP transactions, purchasing, data analysis, email, and supplier communication.
• Occasional travel to supplier facilities, warehouses, and customer locations.
• Ability to stand and walk through production areas for extended periods.
• May occasionally lift up to 25 lbs. during physical inventory activities.