Summary: Purchasing in a manufacturing environment for batch manufacturing of recipes involving powders, pills, and packaged products (nutraceutical industry). Under general supervision, conducts specifically assigned aspects of the NLS purchasing program, which includes projecting, scheduling, and purchasing in finished goods, packaging components, bulk vitamins, minerals, herbs, and a wide variety of ingredients used in the manufacture of nutraceutical products. Works closely with Formulations and other departments to ensure all manufacturing and production needs are met.
Duties and Responsibilities: - Ensure at all times that no assigned products reach Out of Stock status.
- Enter, manipulate and calculate inventory levels based on stock and usage of subassemblies and finished products at multiple locations using spreadsheets and Mfg program (BatchMaster)
- Calculate order quantities based on usage and inventory levels and multiple locations with products in multiple sizes:
- Determine quantities to be ordered
- Determine due dates
- Create purchase orders based on most economical quantity.
- Track status of inventory and follow up periodically.
- Accurately order products using and converting various units of measure in the assembly and subassembly including kilograms, grams, milligrams, millions (M), Thousands (K), km, m, cm, in, foot and other units of measure.
- Understand and apply principles of supply chain management and procurement, lead times, bottlenecks, distribution delivery and tracking methods and systems.
- Negotiation:
- Negotiate bids for supplies including terms, blanket orders and contracts based on annual usages.
- Negotiate terms
- Manages purchase orders including specification, entry, and scheduling in batch master software, and by preparing, bidding, tracking and confirming orders with appropriate parties.
- Effectively utilizes Batch Master Software to incorporate material requirements planning into all purchasing and manufacturing functions.
- Identifies potential vendors, and develops and maintains vendor contacts; develops and maintains a database of viable vendors over a full range of general supplies, packaging components, ingredients, and products associated with equipment and maintenance.
- Confirms specifications with vendors, reviews and improves quality and standards within guidelines and parameters provided by individual departments or historical data.
- Participates in inventory audits.
- Develops purchasing specifications in conjunction with departmental team members and supervisors, and disseminates these to vendors and representatives.
- Reviews purchasing history for cost compliance; alerts management to procurement-related issues as they arise, and enforces compliance with standards, as appropriate.
- Keeps internal departments and customers informed by confirming and clarifying orders; communicating shipping or back order delays.
- Ensures delivery and payment by routing orders to departments for filing; initiating purchase orders, tracking delayed orders; routing invoices to accounts payable.
- Provides information by answering questions from customers and vendors
- Maintains historical information by categorizing and filing orders and related documents.
- Maintains operations by following policies and procedures; reporting changes as needed.
- Prepares reports by collecting, analyzing, calculating, compiling and summarizing information and utilizing applicable software reporting systems.
- Maintains workflow by sorting and delivering information.
- Researches product information to determine suitability of new products; develops and/or modifies product specifications, as appropriate.
- Produces program reports and related documentation.
- Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
Minimum Job Requirements:One to two years full-time college with 1 to 3 years experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Required: - Organizing and coordinating skills.
- Detailed understanding of the job requirements and industry environment for purchasing of raw materials.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with various departments, personnel, personalities and styles of communication.
- Knowledge of the policies and practices of a wide range of products and supply vendors.
- Database management skills.
- Ability to acquire new product knowledge in area of specialty and ability to develop purchasing specifications.
- Knowledge of commercial product ordering and delivery practices.
- Knowledge of procurement rules and regulations.
- Ability to provide technical guidance and training to end users.
- Ability to gather data, compile information, and prepare reports.
Language Skills: - Ability to effectively communicate and carry on a variety of work related conversations in English with good comprehension.
- The ability to read and write, complete various forms and paperwork including process documents with legible handwriting (in English).
Mathematical Skills:Associate level math skills are required and specifically the candidate must be able to understand and convert between various expressions of units of measure including kilograms, grams, milligrams, millions (M), Thousands (K) and other units of measure.
Reasoning Ability: - Ability to effectively carry out instructions furnished in written, oral and diagram form. Ability to deal with challenges requiring logical analysis to determine the appropriate course of action.
- The ability to work independently and use critical thinking to resolve job related challenges.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: - None required.
Optional Experience and Skills Considered Beneficial: - Additional experience within the industry
- cGMP experience and/or clean-room experience
- Safety training.
Work Environment: The noise level in the environment is usually moderate.
Disclaimer:The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.