Materials Planner & Buyer

The Materials Planner & Buyer is responsible for planning and purchasing the materials, components, and outside services required to support production. This position ensures materials are available when needed while maintaining appropriate inventory levels, competitive costs, and strong supplier performance. The role works closely with Production, Engineering, Quality, Warehouse, and Accounting.

• Plan material requirements based on customer demand, production requirements, bills of material, inventory levels, and supplier lead times.
• Purchase raw materials, components, hardware, consumables, and outside processing services.
• Procure sheet metal, plate, tubing, structural materials, aluminum, stainless steel, hardware, and other materials used in metal fabrication.
• Create and manage purchase orders, including verifying pricing, quantities, specifications, and delivery requirements.
• Obtain quotes and negotiate pricing, lead times, and purchasing terms when appropriate.
• Monitor inventory levels, usage, and requirements to prevent shortages while minimizing excess and obsolete inventory.
• Track open purchase orders and work with suppliers to ensure on-time delivery.
• Expedite materials when necessary to support production requirements.
• Maintain accurate purchasing, inventory, supplier, and material information within the ERP/MRP system.
• Review material specifications, drawings, and bills of material to ensure purchased materials meet requirements.
• Work with suppliers and internal departments to resolve shortages, quality issues, delivery problems, and material discrepancies.
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships and evaluate suppliers based on cost, quality, delivery, and responsiveness.
• Identify alternate suppliers and materials when needed.
• Support inventory accuracy through cycle counts, physical inventories, and investigation of discrepancies.
• Identify opportunities to reduce material costs, scrap, inventory levels, and purchasing expenses.
• Maintain awareness of material availability, lead times, market conditions, and potential supply-chain risks.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the overall operation of the company.

• 2+ years of experience in materials planning, purchasing, procurement, inventory control, or a related manufacturing environment.
• Experience in metal fabrication or manufacturing preferred.
• Knowledge of sheet metal, steel, aluminum, stainless steel, hardware, and outside processing preferred.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to read and understand bills of material, drawings, and material specifications.
• Strong organizational, analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple requirements in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.