Material Planner/Buyer

Role Purpose

Responsible for assured supply of materials, equipment and services, (on time, best price, high quality) in addition to competitive costs, minimizing inventories while ensuring optimum materials utilization, and supplier performance. Frequent collaboration with counterparts in departments/division procurement roles in an effort to optimize material flow to and from suppliers while maintaining adequate inventory levels. This role is focused around material planning of direct raw materials for the fiber manufacturing process.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and Purchase raw materials, packaging materials, parts, services, and/or supplies necessary for operation of an organization.
• Support divisional procurement, transportation, supplier management, and logistics operations to ensure customer’s requirements are met at the lowest cost.
• Utilizes knowledge of Supply Chain concepts and principles in all decision processes.
• Coordinate schedules with customer service, suppliers, receiving, manufacturing, and shipping to ensure customer’s requirements are met. Utilize MRP system to develop purchasing plans and production schedule for assigned products while balancing operational efficiency and minimizing costs.
• Accountability for inventory goals driven by strategic stocking decisions based on contract, business strategy, or material availability needs.
• Resolution of material availability for common materials across multiple production lines.
• Coordinate long term supply issues with Divisional Purchasing/Planning and Product Line Management.
• Analyze and implement solutions or strategies for business problems based on the customer’s business goals, objectives, needs, existing systems infrastructure and input from senior personnel.
• Contribute to the achievement of organizational goals through continuous improvement utilizing Supply Chain and Lean concepts.
• Special project assignments as required.
• Acts as main contact for RTP to ensure invoicing issues are eliminated or resolved immediately.
• Participates in cross-functional teams focused on process improvements, cost reduction and supply chain issue resolution
• Protects Intellectual Property (IP).
• Ensures compliance with internal and external auditing requirements and Corning standards
• Champions and advocates for the Global Buying Policy. Ensures compliance.

Experiences/Education - Required

• Bachelor's Degree Required
• 2-5 years relevant experience
• Experience in manufacturing – operations, planning, quality, engineering, supply chain.
• Thorough understanding of inventory management concepts
• Experience using PeopleSoft or SAP Finance and Procurement Software.
• Experience with GSM processes and buying policies.
• Experience working in a matrix environment or on a cross-functional team.
• Strong Excel skills, experience setting up planning models with Excel, Ad hoc querying and reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and written across multiple levels of the organization, including external suppliers/customers
• Ability to comprehend, analyze, and solve complex problems
• Ability to work independently in a dynamic environment and prioritize multiple actions

Experiences/Education - Desired

• Experience as a plant or corporate buyer.
• Knowledge and experience w/ MRP systems and Purchase Order modules
• Experience across multiple businesses, division and/or technologies.
• Ability to understand SQL and Excel VB (Visual Basic) scripts and queries
• Yellow, or Green Belt Certification, demonstrated Lean capability
• Experience with global manufacturing and business through work or project experience.
•  CPSM, APICS or certification related to Supply Chain.