Manufacturing Buyer and Planner

Smiths Interconnect, is a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance interconnect solutions. Our products are used in mission-critical applications across industries such as aerospace, defense, telecommunications, and industrial markets. At Smiths Interconnect, we are committed to innovation, quality, and providing cutting-edge solutions that connect the world’s most demanding systems.

Smiths Interconnect is part of Smiths Group. For over 170 years, Smiths has been pioneering progress by engineering for a better future. We serve millions of people every year, to help create a safer, more efficient and productive, and better-connected world across four global markets: energy, security & defense, space & aerospace and general industrial. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs c.16,000 colleagues in over 50 countries. 

Job Purpose:

This position is responsible for the creating, scheduling, and releasing production to meet the customer’s specified delivery requirement.  The candidate must be self-disciplined, self-motivated and have the ability to comprehend and map production operations and schedules.

Facilitate expedited operations or alter schedules to meet unforeseen conditions.  In this role, ideal candidate must be able to consider each stage of the production process to increase efficiency and productivity throughout the system.  This person will identify potential process improvements and cost reduction opportunities.

Responsibilities:

• Planning, scheduling/releasing and monitoring of production requirements.
• Review current orders and upcoming orders to set priorities.
• Monitor the execution of production plan and resolve any potential issues in a timely fashion.
• Expedite production operations to meet delivery schedules and monthly targets, as needed.
• Prepare production status reports.
• Continuously maintain and monitor ERP system operations/resources to ensure system data accuracy.
• Use ERP Reports to control inventory requirements and work in process.
• Review non-conformances and engineering changes for production requirements.
• Work to manage supplier(s) during demand spikes and critical material shortages.
• Perform purchase historical analysis and provide suggestions.
• Suggest savings opportunities to pursue cost reductions while maintaining quality.
• Work cross functionally with other departments (Engineering, Production, Quality) to achieve a common goal.
• Participate in the manufacture of initial/protoype production runs, providing feedback to establish proper time lines.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the department Manager.

Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• 3-5 years in a Buyer/Planner role
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment
• Good understanding of supply chain and negotiation skills is a must.
• Proficient use with MRP/ERP System
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to react to changes as needed.
• Understands the manufacturing process thoroughly and has reasonable expectations as to what can be accomplished in a certain timeframe.
• Advanced knowledge/proficiency in Microsoft Office products (i.e., Excel, Outlook, Word, etc.)
• Excel (Be able to perform Pivot tables and VLOOKUP)
• Bachelor's Degree or related experience.

Travel %: 0-10%

Security: Please State if US Citizen or permanent Resident Required

Planning and Decision Making:

• Plan daily/weekly activities and generate production reports.
• Analyze schedule delays and interruptions; report adjustments needed to meet deadlines.
• Checks all reports for accuracy and completeness.
• Reviews his/her own daily tasks
• Timeliness of his/her work
• Participate on Lean initiatives to improve process results.

Impact and Scope: 

• Reviews work for accuracy and completeness.
• Verifies resource routing for accurate job costing.
• Contributes to Department functions – meetings, goals, training, etc.
• Completes any additional assignments as requested by Department Manager.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)