Sr. Buyer

Company Description

Miller® is about building things that matter. We lead the welding industry in building advanced, solution-focused products and meeting crucial needs for welding safety and health.

We’re about the partnership and the work. Our products are designed with our users for manufacturing, fabrication, construction, aviation, motorsports, education, agriculture and marine applications.

Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, is headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, and wholly owned by Illinois Tool Works (NYSE: ITW). The company maintains its industry leadership by setting the standard for reliability, quality and responsiveness. Our tagline, “The Power of Blue®,” is inspired by the blue color of Miller equipment.

The company began with an innovation that responded to customer needs, growing from a one-man operation in 1929, to the world’s largest manufacturer of arc welding products. Miller keeps the tradition alive by focusing on its top priority: people.

Job Description

The role of a Senior Buyer requires a leader that is able to drive change in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment leveraging his/her strong interpersonal and negotiation skills. The ideal candidate will coordinate with the Materials Manager to lead and support all supply chain activities for the Power Systems Division. The individual will be responsible for all supply chain activities in the PSD group to include continual involvement with our suppliers and manufacturing teams, as well as properly collaborating with and executing ITW Strategic Sourcing Initiatives. The ideal candidate will also possess the willingness, desire and capability to move into higher level functional leadership roles or general management roles to include being open to relocation in other ITW segments.

Essential Functions:

Key responsibilities include:

• All activities related to procurement, storage and shipment of materials.

• Leading cost, quality, delivery, productivity and simplification activities.

• Developing collaborative versus transactional relationships with key vendors.

• Responsible for vendor negotiation (contracts, price, delivery compliance)

• Supplier evaluation and selection in coordination with the Materials Manager and Engineering team.

• Develop and manage our supplier base (reduction, new product sourcing and selection, and identifying ways for our supplier base to add more value).

• Supplier visits and quality audits.

• Proactively manage Corrective Action Request process.

• Adherence to and implementation of all ITW Toolbox (Product Line Simplification, In-Lining, Market Rate of Demand, and Understand, Simplify, act).

• Manage material price variance, inventory turns and cost reduction programs.

• Documentation of all cost savings and avoidances.

• Lead and assist in Divisional materials projects.

• Develop and implement materials strategy and goals.

• Develop and supervise material technicians and material handlers and seek out areas for simplification.

• Communicate MRD adjustments to suppliers based upon expected material requirements.

• Responsible for maintaining MOH goals as well as limiting the non-“active” inventory classification.

• Responsible for cycle counts and inventory management.

• Responsible for managing materials when transitioning from an existing product to new product.

• Actively engage in New Product Development initiatives.

• Daily interaction with manufacturing and engineering staff.

• Adherence to and implementation of all ITW and business unit principles (flow, 80/20 simplification, empower, trust)-similar to lean concepts

• Adherence to and implementation of all ITW and business unit principles (Product Line Simplification, 80/20, Market Rate of Demand, empower, trust).

Qualifications

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have a solid materials background and be a hands-on supervisor who combines tactical and strategic thinking towards creation of a learning organization culture. Candidate must possess the following as indicated:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Operations/Supply Chain/Business Management.

•  Willingness, desire and capability to move into higher level functional leadership roles or general management roles to include relocation to other ITW segments.

• Willingness to obtain further education as necessary for higher level roles.

• Ideally 5-10 years’ experience in effective supplier management (i.e. negotiation, delivery, quality).

• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and time management skills.

• Ability to manage cost savings and new product development projects.

• Experience in setting goals and performance management.

• Proven track record of cost savings and em