Associate in Training

PURCHASING ASSOCIATE
Manufacturing Raw Material Procurement

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of purchasing practices and procedures within an ERP environment.
Knowledge of materials, products, and the commodity market in area of specialization.
Skill in preparing and analyzing technical specifications and requirements standard to metal fabrication and manufacturing.
Skill in providing suppliers with the appropriate level of technical specifications to ensure that they can adequately quote and satisfy our requirements.
Skill in both verbal and written communication – both inside and external to the organization.
Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
Skill in negotiating win/win agreements that support long-term supplier relationships.
Skill in using Microsoft Office programs and ability to learn new software programs as required.
Attention to detail and consistent follow-through.
Unquestionable ethics.

Qualifications
Associate's degree in related field AND one year of purchasing experience; OR, Five years of purchasing experience; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or education from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Job Scope
The Purchasing Associate, Manufacturing Raw Materials Procurement, is responsible for maintaining GenMet’s reputation and profitability through effective source selection, material planning and logistics, supplier relationship management, and purchase order processing /tracking for production materials. All material and supply purchases are to be executed efficiently for the best total cost management, which includes supplier delivery performance, quality, cost, and service. The Purchasing Associate in conjunction with the Purchasing Specialist secures and analyzes competitive quotations, negotiates prices and terms, and recommends suppliers with respect to cost, quality, and delivery performance competitiveness. All sourcing decisions will consider suppliers' service and abilities to further the companies' strategic objectives.

The Purchasing Associate coordinates and analyzes material forecasts for efficient and timely replenishment of material while managing:

A consistent flow of material receipts.
Increasing inventory turns.
Reducing inventory total cost.

The Purchasing Associate is further responsible for ensuring positive relationships with Suppliers and the development of continually improving procurement strategies.

SUPPLIER MANAGEMENT
Evaluating Suppliers is one of the most critical functions of a Purchasing Associate. GenMet adheres to a lean manufacturing schedule and uses just-in-time principles therefore any delays in the supply chain can shut down production, cost our company and its customers valuable time and money and risk damaging our reputation. As a Purchasing Associate, you will be expected to use a variety of resources to identify potential Suppliers, these will include but are not limited to: the internet, trade journals, industry and company publications, and material directories and membership in Purchasing Trade Associations. It is anticipated that you will attend meetings, trade shows, and conferences to learn new industry trends and make contacts with potential Suppliers. You will be expected to interview prospective Suppliers, as well as visit their facilities and distribution centers to assess their capabilities and monitor their performance. It is important to make certain that the supplier is capable of delivering the desired materials on time, with the expected quality, and in the correct quantities.

Specific Activities:

Identify, recommend and participate in qualification of Suppliers of raw materials.
Ensure all Approved Suppliers of raw materials are entered correctly in GenMet’s ERP system (JobBoss) with appropriate lead-time, payment terms, GL code, etc…
Ensure the specific capabilities and/or products of all Approved Suppliers of raw materials are documented and updated as appropriate.
Monitor, record, and communicate supplier quality, on-time delivery, and service metrics.

INVENTORY CONTROL
Inventory accuracy is an essential component to ensuring the continuity of supply of raw materials to support productions schedules. Inventory control requires the development and implementation of the tools and systems necessary for the efficient and accurate documentation of the use of inventories, which include raw stocks, hardware, and finished goods. The Purchasing Associate in conjunction with Operations Management is responsible for training production personnel in the activities necessary to support accurate inventory control.

Specific Activities:

Maintain a schedule of inventory cycle counts to ensure inventory reflected in JobBoss is accurate.
Identify root cause for Inventory variances and implement permanent corrective action.
Assist in the development, continuous improvement, and training of the inventory control process and procedures.
Reconcile material inventory when purchased items are returned and/or replaced.
Arrange for disposal of surplus materials.

Set annual goals for cycle count and physical inventory accuracy percentages. Initiate corrective actions if goals are not met.
Ensure materials are received into the system and issued accurately and on a timely basis (i.e. within 48 hours).
Initiate continuous improvement activities to streamline processes and systems.
Develop tools and methods to ensure traceability and accountability throughout the plant.

PROCUREMENT
Purchasing professionals must consider price, quality, availability, reliability, and technical support when choosing suppliers and materials. They should work to acquire goods and services of the highest quality at the lowest reasonable cost while building long-term relationships. The effectiveness of the Purchasing Associate will be measured by their ability:

To maintain a high inventory turnover , by reducing excess storage , carrying costs and inventory losses.
To maintain continuity of supply, preventing interruption of the flow of materials and services to production.
To maintain the specified material quality level and consistency of quality which permits efficient and effective operation.
To develop reliable alternate sources of supply to ensure contingency options are in place should one source become unavailable and to promote a competitive atmosphere in performance and pricing.
To maintain GenMet as a preferred customer with all of our Suppliers.

Specific Activities:

Solicit and review quotations from Suppliers for the purpose of procuring raw materials and supplies.
Ensure detailed drawings and material specifications are provided to Suppliers to ensure they can provide materials that meet all required specifications.
Prepare and issue purchase orders in accordance with company policy and negotiated terms and conditions.
Verify the accuracy of material specific information, pricing and lead-time for all documents and purchase orders before they are furnished to Suppliers.
Provide status of material orders to the Production Manager and Customer Interface Coordinator as required.
Work with Suppliers to expedite delivery of materials as necessary.
Work closely with Customer Interface Coordinator to ensure materials and services are not in the controlling path for production.
Work closely with estimating and engineering personnel to identify ways to reduce material costs.
Maintain procurement files (material certifications, MSDS sheets, Supplier Qualification information).
Review defective or unacceptable materials with inspection / quality control personnel and production personnel. Enter appropriate non-conformance documentation, disposition material, and take corrective action with Supplier.
Ensure all Suppliers, Vendors, and Subcontractors comply with GenMet shipping, receiving, and invoicing procedures and requirements.
Ensure all pricing and or quantity discrepancies are resolved timely with Suppliers.
Maintain appropriate Metrics for specific procurement processes.
Continuously improve the efficiency of GenMet purchasing processes.
Develop and utilize tools within the JobBoss system to provide ready access to information resulting in improved effectiveness of the purchasing function.

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