Planner/Buyer

What You Can Expect

The Planner / Buyer will be responsible for the Planning and Purchasing of assigned product from “cradle to grave” (i.e. new product development, sustaining and obsolescence). They will be responsible for a “heavy” product load and must be able to work with minimal supervision to effectively manage assigned product.

Proactively analyzes and interprets information for Planning systems and determines if process is in control, accurate and meeting customer demands. Makes day-to-day decisions that demonstrate a basic understanding of the financial business drivers. Effectively plans manufacturing recourses and diagnoses problems to minimize interruptions to production.

As an integral part of the Product team, this person will work directly with Suppliers, Marketing, Sales, Accounting, Operations and Engineering to ensure excellent customer service levels while minimizing inventory investments.

How You'll Create Impact

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Master Planning & Scheduling
• Purchasing of inventory items
• Provide product availability commitments
• Supplier negotiation to achieve lowest total cost
• Effectively utilize company recourses
• Accountable for the accuracy and impact of planning decisions
• Planning system maintenance and updates to insure integrity of Planning data
• Coordinating Forecasts for all Demand Channels for assigned product.
• Product Team member
• Liaison between other departments to coordinate product issues that need resolution.
• Work with New Product teams to develop effective product launch plans.
• Effectively manage product with a shelf life to minimize obsolescence from expired product
• Supply Chain Development
• Provide planning / schedule commitments and performance reporting
• Comply with Government, Regulatory and Zimmer Policies and Procedures.

This is not an exhaustive list of duties or functions and may not necessarily comprise all of the "essential functions" for purposes of the ADA.

What Makes You Stand Out

Expected Areas of Competence:

• Ability to quickly and accurately generate action requirements based on Planning System outputs.
• Excellent Spreadsheet skills and proficient use of Microsoft Office products (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and ERP systems experience required.
• Understanding of MRP and MRP II techniques, principles and concepts required.
• Excellent communications skills required with the ability to communicate appropriately with all levels (able to communicate equally well with production line workers and the Company President).
• Must be a self-starter, self-managed, an effective team player and posses excellent analytical / problem solving skills.
• Must have the ability to handle complex problems, make sound decisions and work independently under the pressure of a heavy workload with significant time restrictions.
• Needs good understanding of the manufacturing process (from raw materials to finished product), sound accounting principles, inventory control and paperwork flow necessary to be able to function responsibly in this position.

Your Background

• Bachelors Degree required, APICS certification preferred
• 2 to 5 years of Planning in a manufacturing environment, experience in Medical Device Manufacturing preferred.
• Supplier collaboration/purchasing experience required.
• Work experience with Lean Manufacturing and Six-sigma preferred.

Physical Requirements

Travel Expectations

Up to 10%