Purchasing Agent

Aston Carter • Elkhart, IN

3d • $55,000 - $65,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Purchasing Agent plays a critical role in supporting manufacturing operations through the strategic procurement of production materials and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) supplies and services. This position is responsible for sourcing, vendor management, inventory control, and data integrity related to parts and materials. The ideal candidate brings strong negotiation skills, a working knowledge of supply chain principles, and a proactive approach to vendor and inventory management.

Requirements

• 5+ years of purchasing experience in the manufacturing sector.
• Experience with any ERP or MRP software.
• Proficiency in MS Office, particularly Excel.
• Experience in metal fabrication manufacturing.

Nice To Haves

• Prior purchasing experience in CNC machining, metal fabrication, or industrial maintenance environments.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 or other quality management systems, including vendor audits and compliance documentation.
• Understanding of lean manufacturing principles and how procurement supports waste reduction and continuous improvement.
• Technical knowledge of industrial supplies, tooling, and machine components such as cutting tools, bearings, pneumatics, and hydraulics.
• Proficiency in pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, and basic data analysis.
• Exposure to capital equipment purchasing or CapEx project support.
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Source, evaluate, and select suppliers for MRO and indirect materials based on quality, cost, lead time, and service reliability.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, and delivery schedules to support uptime and cost containment.
• Issue and manage purchase orders in compliance with internal controls and procurement policies.
• Maintain and update the Approved Vendor List and supplier records.
• Foster strong supplier relationships to ensure consistent material availability and responsiveness to urgent needs.
• Procure production-critical materials, tooling, and consumables to support machining, fabrication, and assembly operations.
• Collaborate with production, maintenance, and engineering teams to forecast material needs and align purchasing with build schedules.
• Monitor supplier performance and lead times; escalate and resolve delivery or quality issues to avoid production downtime.
• Manage blanket purchase orders and vendor-managed inventory (VMI) programs where applicable.
• Support new product introductions by sourcing initial materials and coordinating with engineering on BOM setup and supplier qualification.
• Ensure compliance with ISO, safety, and environmental standards in all purchasing activities.
• Coordinate and execute regular cycle counts to ensure inventory accuracy and minimize variances.
• Analyze usage trends for machine inserts, tooling, and indirect materials; identify anomalies and adjust reorder points accordingly.
• Create and maintain part numbers, BOMs, and purchasing data in the ERP system.
• Maintain MSDS documentation and ISO-compliant vendor records.
• Partner with maintenance, production, and engineering teams to align purchasing strategies with operational needs.
• Provide administrative support and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefit offerings including medical, dental, vision, 401k with employer match, paid vacation and holidays, life insurance, and a health savings plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees