About the role
The Purchasing Specialist is responsible for coordinating and executing purchasing activities to ensure the timely availability of materials, supplies, equipment, and services necessary to support foundry operations. This position works closely with Production, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Accounting, and approved suppliers to maintain production schedules, control costs, and support efficient operations.
The ideal candidate is organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and capable of managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
* Process purchase requisitions and prepare purchase orders for raw materials, foundry supplies, tooling, maintenance parts, equipment, and outside services. * Obtain and compare supplier quotations to evaluate pricing, quality, lead times, and delivery requirements. * Negotiate routine pricing and delivery terms within established company guidelines and authorization limits. * Monitor open purchase orders and follow up on order confirmations, delayed shipments, backorders, and shortages. * Identify alternative suppliers and purchasing options when necessary to maintain production continuity. * Ensure purchases comply with company policies, approved supplier requirements, and budgetary guidelines.
Production and Inventory Support
* Coordinate with Production, Engineering, Maintenance, and other departments to identify material requirements and purchasing priorities. * Monitor material availability and communicate potential shortages or delivery delays that could affect production schedules. * Support inventory control by reviewing stock levels, usage, reorder points, and replenishment needs. * Assist with coordinating outside processing, subcontracted services, tooling, and other production-related purchases. * Help prevent unnecessary inventory accumulation, expedite costs, and production interruptions.
Supplier and Vendor Management
* Maintain professional working relationships with suppliers and service providers. * Communicate delivery expectations, resolve routine order discrepancies, and address supplier performance concerns. * Assist in evaluating supplier quality, reliability, pricing, and delivery performance. * Escalate significant supplier issues, quality concerns, or supply disruptions to management.
Systems, Documentation, and Reporting
* Enter and maintain accurate purchase orders, supplier information, pricing, delivery dates, and purchasing records within the company's ERP system. * Maintain organized purchasing documentation and support the resolution of discrepancies involving purchase orders, receiving records, and invoices in coordination with Accounting. * Prepare purchasing reports, open-order summaries, and cost comparisons as requested. * Ensure purchasing records are accurate, complete, and maintained in accordance with company procedures.
Continuous Improvement and Teamwork
* Identify opportunities to improve purchasing procedures, reduce costs, and increase supplier reliability. * Collaborate across departments to improve communication, planning, and material availability. * Support company safety, quality, confidentiality, and continuous improvement initiatives. * Perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
* High school diploma or equivalent required; additional education in supply chain management, business, or procurement preferred. * Two or more years of purchasing, procurement, inventory, or supply chain experience preferred, ideally in a manufacturing environment. * Experience using an ERP system, purchasing software, or inventory management system. * Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and other standard business applications. * Strong organizational, communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills. * Ability to compare quotations, interpret purchasing documentation, track multiple orders, and prioritize competing deadlines. * Ability to work effectively with suppliers, production personnel, and internal departments. * Knowledge of manufacturing materials, foundry supplies, machining, tooling, or outside processing is a plus.
Key Competencies
* Attention to detail and accuracy * Vendor communication and relationship management * Cost awareness and sound judgment * Follow-through and accountability * Time management and prioritization * Cross-functional collaboration * Initiative and problem-solving
Working Conditions
This position primarily works in an office environment within a manufacturing facility and may require periodic visits to the production floor to understand material requirements, coordinate with operating departments, and support purchasing priorities. Compliance with applicable facility safety requirements is required.
Performance Expectations
Performance may be evaluated based on:
* Timely availability of materials and supplies needed for production. * Purchase order accuracy and timely processing. * Supplier delivery performance and responsiveness. * Competitive pricing and documented cost-saving opportunities. * Effective management of open orders and purchasing priorities. * Accuracy of purchasing records and coordination with Accounting. * Communication and support provided to internal departments.