Buyer - Vinton

Ideal Industries is a state-of-the-art welding center and innovative fabrication company aligned with a leading manufacturer of commercial Sewer and Excavation Equipment. We are seeking a proactive and strategic full-time Buyer/Planner to manage the end-to-end procurement and production scheduling of fabricated components. This permanent, on-site role is critical in aligning material availability with daily manufacturing goals, optimizing inventory levels, and ensuring our production team maintains maximum efficiency and output.

Responsibilites:

• Procurement & Planning: Source, forecast, and purchase fabricated components to support a high-volume welding and fabrication environment, ensuring a seamless flow from raw materials to completed assemblies.
• MRP/ERP Optimization: Master and execute purchasing and production planning requirements within the Made2Manage (M2M) ERP system, ensuring accurate lead times and data integrity.
• Inventory & Lean Control: Implement and utilize Kanban and Lean Manufacturing principles to set and monitor stock levels, minimize carrying costs, eliminate bottlenecks, and ensure a lean flow of materials to the shop floor.
• Strategic Vendor Management: Build and maintain long-term supplier relationships, negotiate pricing and terms, evaluate vendor performance, and resolve any logistics, quality, or billing deviations.
• Production Scheduling: Collaborate closely with the General Manager and shop floor supervisors to develop, track, and adjust production schedules based on material arrivals and capacity.
• Continuous Improvement: Analyze purchasing trends, track key performance indicators (KPIs), and identify cost-saving or process- efficiency opportunities within the supply chain.
  
  

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Operations, or a related technical field is preferred. APICS/CPIM certification is a strong plus.
• Experience: Proven experience working as a Buyer, Planner, or Buyer/Planner specifically within a manufacturing environment is required.
• Technical Skills: * Proficiency with Made2Manage (M2M) or similar robust MRP/ERP systems.
• Strong, practical understanding of Kanban and Lean Manufacturing principles.
• General knowledge of welding and fabrication processes is highly advantageous.

• Soft Skills: Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to bridge gaps effectively between external vendors and internal shop floor personnel.
  

Location & Commitment:

• Scheduled Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 4:00 pm.
• Status: Full-Time, Permanent, On-site position located in Vinton, Iowa.