Technical Buyer

Yanfeng•Novi, MI

About The Position

This role supports the procurement and management of spare parts and components to ensure optimal equipment and tooling performance. It covers inventory and stockroom optimization, pricing and ordering administration, budget planning, supplier agreement management, and continuous improvement of procurement and tracking systems. As organizational needs evolve, the role will increasingly focus on strategic sourcing, process improvement, and other high-value activities as directed by CapEx Procurement Management. The position has no supervisory responsibilities and may support North American plants during critical equipment downtime events and at customer sites, including industrial manufacturing plants. The role also supports equipment and tooling transfers, disposition processes, maintenance audits, preventative maintenance tasks and schedules, plant technical support related to EAM systems and procedures, and spare-parts inventory software training. It may involve seeking component alternatives from China, resolving supplier invoice and payment issues, and supporting shipping, customs, and logistics matters. The employee must comply with applicable company policies and function-related requirements for IOS, EHS, product safety, compliance, and information security. Additional hours or overtime may be required as needed or assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in procurement, supply management, IT systems, business, or a related area; equivalent work experience may also be considered.
At least 3 years of relevant experience in technical procurement.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
Self-motivated team player with the ability to negotiate and lead or encourage teammates and suppliers.
Ability and willingness to travel and work at customer sites, including industrial manufacturing plants.
Ability to work additional hours and/or overtime as needed or assigned.
Comply with company policies and procedures and function-related IOS, EHS, product safety, compliance, information security, and confidentiality requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience using ERP systems such as QAD, EAM, SAP, or DSSI.
Experience with automotive equipment and facilities maintenance, preferably plastic injection molding and/or assembly.
Understanding of procedures needed to maintain automotive production and facilities equipment used in automotive plant operations.
Basic understanding of tooling/equipment maintenance and preventive maintenance for automotive equipment and tooling.
Equipment project management experience from specifications and RFQs through decommissioning of tooling/equipment.

Responsibilities

Help minimize Yanfeng machine and tooling downtime and reduce spare/component costs.
Lead pricing agreements for key components and spare parts.
Support continuous improvement and changes to software and systems; prepare reports tracking key performance indicators and deliverables.
Troubleshoot system and software problems or enhancements and collaborate with system, team, and IT stakeholders to improve efficiency.
Support procurement and plant operations projects assigned by Yanfeng Procurement management.
Support North American plant operations during critical equipment downtime events as required.
Track and report savings generated through spare-parts inventory maintenance, reduced downtime, and spare-parts/component purchases.
Support equipment and tooling transfers between Yanfeng plants.
Support the Yanfeng disposition and scrap process and use the related software as needed.
Support development of 24/7 emergency component and downtime system/partner opportunities as the role evolves.
Search for alternative components, including from China, that meet timing and specification needs as necessary.
Support spare-parts supplier invoice and payment issues as necessary.
Support shipping, customs, and logistics concerns related to component purchases as required.
Support audits of North American plant maintenance departments for preventive-maintenance accuracy and content, spare parts, manpower, and other standards as needed.
Help AME and plant teams create preventive-maintenance tasks and schedules for new and existing Yanfeng-managed equipment and tooling.
Provide day-to-day plant technical support related to EAM/system software and procedures as needed.
Support training on equipment/tooling spare-parts crib inventory software.
Support optimization of system preventive-maintenance tasks to minimize maintenance labor hours while meeting requirements.
Maintain a basic understanding of weekly maintenance KPIs for North American plants.
Support plant maintenance audits to assess efficiency, staffing adequacy, and maintenance quality on Yanfeng equipment.

Benefits

Competitive compensation packages.
Paid vacation, paid sick leave, and paid holidays.
Medical, dental, and vision benefits from day one.
Competitive 401(k) match.
Rewarding Healthy Behavior Program.
Life and disability insurance.
Supplemental health plans.
Employee Assistance Program.
Company discount program.
Employee development opportunities, including development programs, continuous learning, mentorship, volunteerism, and comprehensive onboarding.