LEER - Material Control - Buyer

JB Poindexter & Co•Elkhart, IN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

LEER Group, LLC is North America’s largest manufacturer and supplier of fiberglass and aluminum truck caps and tonneau covers for residential and commercial applications. The company operates multiple manufacturing facilities across the United States and distributes products through a network of more than 1,300 independent dealers. Founded in the late 1960s, LEER is the most recognized and top-selling brand in the truck cap industry. LEER products are custom manufactured and delivered to a diverse customer base including individuals, commercial fleets, dealerships, and exporters. LEER Group is a subsidiary of J.B. Poindexter & Co., a privately held diversified manufacturing company offering competitive compensation, progressive benefits, and opportunities for career growth across a broad portfolio of manufacturing businesses.

Requirements

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Thorough understanding of the business and supply chain.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Extremely proficient with production planning systems, such as MRP II.
Boots on the ground (very hands-on) accustomed to wearing many hats in an entrepreneurial “fast-paced” environment.
Dynamic, polished, high energy, focused, and driven. Very sharp, innovative, and accustomed to “figuring it out”.
Ability to motivate teams to produce in tight timeframes while managing several projects simultaneously.
Ability to effectively communicate and facilitate through encouragement, motivation, and inspiration at all levels of the organization.
BA in business or closely related degree is preferred or equivalent experience.
5 years or more year experience in a buyer / planner purchasing role.
Understanding of Capacity Planning and MRP.
In depth utilization and experience with JDE E1 is preferred.
Excellent skills conducting product and supplier research.
Strong attention to detail.
Excellent problem-solving and organizational skills.
Ability to interact productively with all levels of company management and all product lines.
Ability to prioritize and multi-task.
Strong decision maker.
Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and tact.
Flexibility and adaptability to accommodate new tasks and processes.
Capable of working independently and/or part of a group, as required.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Must be able to function in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment.
Ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. Must have the ability to combine pieces of information to form general conclusions (i.e., finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Must be able to guide, lead, and provide direction: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Must have fluent computer skills in Microsoft Office and related software packages.
Savvy understanding of Excel and utilization.
Solution oriented self-starter with a hands-on approach and the ability to work unaided.
Valid driver’s license.
Excellent negotiation skills in challenging situations, both internally and externally.
Proven knowledge and execution of Lean methods, as modeled after the Toyota Production System.

Nice To Haves

BA in business or closely related degree is preferred or equivalent experience.
In depth utilization and experience with JDE E1 is preferred.

Responsibilities

Interpreting, analyzing material requirements, planning, and procuring Commodities, Raw Materials, Components, Operating Supplies, Equipment, Maintenance Supplies, etc., at the appropriate levels, on-time, and within cost to support the Leer facilities.
Establishing strategies to improve supply chain ordering, solve shortage issues, and strengthen supplier relationships in concert with direction set by the Purchasing Manager.
Tracking assigned commodities and implementing strategies to lower overall procurement cost.
Coordinating with JBPCO commodity managers to resolve Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost issues.
Mentoring non-supply chain team members validating that processes and procedures are clearly understood.
Reviewing requirements and using MRP system (JDE E1) as well as available reports to determine material needs and taking appropriate actions to meet those needs (placing orders, scheduling delivery dates, creating and releasing orders, etc.).
Driving and tracking improvements to “inventory turns”, inventory levels, supplier delivery performance.
Sharing responsibility for implementation of change notices to avoid unnecessary rework, scrap, obsolescence, cancellation charge, or production delays and assuring that the correct revision levels are maintained in inventory.
Proactively keeping suppliers notified of any changes. Expediting/deferring/cancellations.
Participating and engaging in daily/weekly/monthly factory performance reviews.
Using departmental performance metrics to drive countermeasures and continuous improvement.
Completing special assignments for the Supply Chain department as directed by the Purchasing Manager.
Ensuring data accuracy (parts, MOQs, standard packs, cost, etc.) reporting problems and taking appropriate action.
Providing technical leadership, training, and support to manufacturing teams as well as peers.
Executing investigation and root cause analysis on any supply disruptions or material quality issues and implementing corrective action.
Identifying, escalating, and resolving material shortages/bill of material errors, usage fluctuation before they affect production.
Participating in supplier audits and vendor review process to communicate business results and vendor performance / rating.
Managing return of merchandise to supplier due to quality issues, delivery terms, etc.
Leading and participating in cross-functional teams/activities to improve systems or performances (e.g., cycle counts, training, manual inventory, etc.).
Other duties as assigned or needed.