Planner/Buyer

About Us: 

How many companies can say they’ve been in business for over 177 years?! 

Here at ZEISS, we certainly can! As the pioneers of science, ZEISS handles the everchanging environments in a fast-paced world, meeting it with cutting edge of technologies and continuous advancements. ZEISS believes that innovation and technology are the key to a sustainable future and solutions for global change. We have a diverse range of portfolios throughout the ZEISS family in segments like, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology. We are a global company with over 42,000 employees and have over 4,000 in the US and Canada alone! Make a difference, come join the team! 

Location/Region: This position is located in our Maple Grove, MN office. Hybrid schedule 3 days onsite and 2 days remote.  

What’s the role?  

Establishes planning parameters and forecasts for assigned products to ensure parts availability for manufacturing and service demands.  Works with vendors to place and expedite purchase orders.  Controls execution of the production plan to ensure a leveled workload and optimal use of resources. 

Sound Interesting? 

Here’s what you’ll do: 

Demand Planning

• Provides input into S&OP discussions.  Establishes top level forecast for CMM machines based on the historical run rates and input from Sales and Product Management. 

• Plans for additional service demand for spare parts.

• Acts as an interface with Customer Care and Sales to assign dates to customer orders.

• Responsible for OTD on machine and spare parts orders.

Production Management

• Reviews production orders for missing parts and approves their release to the Warehouse.

• Responds to missing parts tickets and works with urgency to expedite them in.

• Assists in establishing planning guidelines to ensure best usage of resources and smooth workload in Manufacturing.

Vendor Management

• Places purchase orders and communicates with vendors on pull ins and push outs.

• Provides feedback to vendors to help improve their performance.

• Assists in developing “pull systems” such as kanban to minimize on hand inventory.

• Ensures that all activities comply with US Government requirements and company policies and procedures.

SAP Data Management

• Reviews, approves and implements Engineering Change Orders.

• Responsible for maintaining accurate master data and purchase order data in SAP.

Inventory Management

• Responsible for identifying opportunities and taking actions to improve parts availability for manufacturing and service demands.

• Responsible for reviewing excess inventory and executing disposition.

Do you qualify?  

• Two-year college degree in business or related field or 3 to 5 years professional experience in a Procurement, Manufacturing, Planning, or Inventory Control function.

• Understanding of ERP systems.

• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Excel.

• Effective verbal and written communication skills.

• Effective analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Professional interpersonal skills.

• Ability to work in intercultural teams.

• Self-motivated individual who shows initiative to take on additional assignments.

Working Environment:  

• Must be able to work required hours to complete the job and meet customer expectations.

• Some travel domestic and international, no more than 5%.

The annual pay range for this position is $63,000 – $79,000

The pay offered for this role may be influenced by factors such as job location, scope of role, qualifications, education, experience, & complexity/specialization/scarcity of talent.

This position is also eligible for a performance bonus or sales commissions.

We have amazing benefits to support you as an employee at ZEISS! 

• Medical 

• Vision 

• Dental 

• 401k Matching 

• Employee Assistance Programs 

• Vacation and sick pay 

• The list goes on! 

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team:

Zeiss provides Equal Employment Opportunity without unlawful regard to an Applicants race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, citizen status, sexual orientation, pregnancy (includes childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical condition), genetic predisposition, carrier status, gender expression or identity, including transgender identity, or any other class or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law of the employee (or the people with whom the employee associates, including relatives and friends).