Associate Buyer

Overview

Daifuku Airport America Corporation is a subsidiary of Daifuku North America a group company of Daifuku in Japan - the largest material handling company in the world. Our advanced systems move everything from car bodies at auto plants to luggage at airports to packaged goods at warehouses. We are known as experts in engineering, manufacturing, and servicing innovative automated materials handling systems including conveyors, automatic guided vehicles, automated storage & retrieval systems, and integrated controls.

The company is currently seeking an Associate Buyer.

Position Summary/ Primary Purpose

Under the general supervision of the Corporate Procurement Manager to process logistic invoices, create requisitions, purchases of Materials and Services of a defined group of custom engineered or specialty items.  Negotiates claims or adjustments.

Responsibilities

Major Areas of Responsibility

• Code, log, and approve freight invoices making sure proper supporting documentation is received.
• Create purchase requisitions from engineering requests.
• Follow up on open order and expedite materials for projects as required to maintain project schedules.
• Accurately enter orders into ERP System including changes or revisions as appropriate.
• Coordinate Supplier Diversity requirements and forms with Sales and Estimating for airport bids.
• Purchase standard and off the shelf items.
• Attend project team meetings for Procurement and track action items.
• Coordinate New Supplier requests with Finance.
• Maintain subcontractor/supplier databases.
• New part entry into SAP.
• Participate with representatives from Daifuku Engineering, and other departments, to modify or develop new item specifications or qualify vendor for approved use.
• Participate in the identification of secondary materials, equipment, and sources of supply.
• Review descriptions on Purchase Requisitions and solicit competitive bids in accordance with company policies.
• Evaluate the commercial terms of each bid including price, quality, terms of payment, availability of trade discounts, product warranty/performance, proof of insurance and compliance of Daifuku purchasing general terms and conditions, product liability insurance, capacity of production facilities, delivery dates meeting user or construction schedule, reliability of vendor in other similar transactions, transportation.
• Negotiate and procure items defined as custom engineered or specialty items used within the Daifuku Airport America Corp material handling systems. Responsibility may include administration of material contracts with outside suppliers, inter-division contracts, and interfacing with Daifuku Legal Department for final contract language when necessary.
• Coordinate the technical review of vendor proposals with the Engineering Design Section for such items as: conformance to design specifications, including any vendor suggested change in material or process; technical competence of vendor’s personnel; technical capacity (plant and equipment) or production facilities; method and evaluation of quality control procedures.
• Consolidate or adjust quantities to achieve discounts or other price advantages.
• Recommend successful vendor and issues Purchase Orders and/or Change Orders.
• Negotiate claims or adjustments against supplier for defective material or non-performance.
• Participate and assist in the development of short and long range departmental goals.
• Visit vendor production facilities as required, and Daifuku project job sites as necessary to update contract status, provides findings to Engineering or Project Management departments, and negotiates new or revised project priorities or production schedules as necessary.

Knowledge

• English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Production and Processing — Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Qualifications

Skills & Abilities

• Time Management — Managing one's own time.
• Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of you.
• Verbal and Written Expression and Recognition — The ability to listen to, understand and communicate information and ideas presented through spoken or written words and sentences.
• Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Education & Experience

• Associate’s degree in Business, Supply Management, Materials and Logistics Management, Procurement or equivalent strongly preferred.
• 1-2 years of significant experience required in Purchasing Department of a major manufacturer or service organization.
• Optional: 1-2 years of experience within a defined engineered commodity group and/or contract administration.
• Negotiation skills with knowledge of contract law, U.C.C Code and federal procurement policies.
• Computer literate required, with proficiency in MS Word, Excel, Access and Impromptu. SAP knowledge is desired.

Demonstrated Physical Abilities

Remain stationery for 50% of the time; move/traverse throughout the office to access file cabinets and office equipment; operate a computer and other productivity machinery; inspect documents; communicate with others through talking/hearing; read/identify/assess forms and correspondence. 

Daifuku Airport America Corporation is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled, and federal sub/contractor. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, protected veteran status, marital status or medical condition. If you’d like to view a copy of the company’s affirmative action plan or policy statement, please call 248-553-1000.

Daifuku Airport America Corporation offers an excellent compensation package including great benefits such as excellent medical, vision, and dental insurance, paid vacation time, paid sick time, and paid holidays, 401K, Flexible Spending Programs, and more.

At this time our company only receives applications online. If you need assistance applying online to this position, please call 248-553-1000 and leave a message and your call will be returned.

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