Buyer/Planner

PHD, Inc•Fort Wayne, IN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Buyer/Planner ensures materials and supplier capacity are available to meet PHD, Inc. production and customer requirements while balancing inventory, quality, lead times, and cost. The position uses ERP/MRP information and business data to anticipate supply issues and coordinate timely solutions. The role covers purchasing and planning, supply continuity, supplier relationships and performance, supplier risk, inventory optimization, cost and commercial terms, and cross-functional coordination. It also maintains accurate purchasing, supplier, cost, lead-time, and planning information in ERP/MRP systems; uses Excel and reporting tools to analyze trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities; and supports continuous improvement, including appropriate use of approved emerging technologies such as AI tools. Other related duties and projects may be assigned.

Requirements

Associate or bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience considered.
Three or more years of purchasing, material planning, supply chain, or inventory experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.
Working knowledge of manufacturing ERP/MRP systems, purchasing processes, inventory control, and supplier performance management.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and business reporting tools; ability to interpret operational and cost data and learn new technology.
Sound judgment and attention to detail.
Effective problem-solving, prioritization, negotiation, and written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or a related field.
Three or more years of purchasing, material planning, supply chain, or inventory experience in a manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

Review MRP requirements, demand changes, forecasts, inventory, and supplier capacity to determine purchasing priorities.
Create and maintain purchase orders, supplier schedules, acknowledgments, and delivery commitments.
Resolve ERP/MRP exceptions, shortages, and late orders; expedite or adjust deliveries to protect production schedules and customer commitments.
Escalate supply risks requiring additional support or authority.
Communicate requirements and priorities to suppliers.
Monitor supplier delivery, quality, lead times, responsiveness, and capacity; coordinate corrective actions with suppliers and Quality and support supplier development.
Identify delivery, capacity, quality, and other supply risks early; work with Purchasing/Procurement and internal partners on recovery plans and approved alternatives.
Balance material availability and working capital through appropriate order quantities, timing, and planning parameters.
Recommend actions for excess, obsolete, slow-moving, and at-risk inventory.
Monitor pricing, purchase price variance (PPV), freight, and order minimums; identify cost improvements and negotiate pricing, lead times, and terms within assigned authority.
Partner with Operations, Planning, Engineering, Quality, Customer Service, and Finance on new products, engineering changes, custom and large-order requirements, and supplier issues.
Assess bills of material, inventory, lead times, and open orders; communicate constraints and recommended actions.
Maintain accurate purchasing, supplier, cost, lead-time, and planning information in ERP/MRP systems.
Use Excel and reporting tools to analyze trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
Improve processes to reduce shortages, inventory, lead times, cost, and manual work.
Use approved emerging technologies, including appropriate AI tools, to support productivity and analysis; validate outputs and follow company data-handling requirements.
Complete other related duties and projects as assigned.