Strategic Buyer

About Us

Daifuku is the nation’s leading independent, U.S.‐based provider of intelligent material handling systems. With hundreds of engineers in‐house, the company designs, manufactures, integrates, and installs the full spectrum of intralogistics solutions. We provide leading‐edge conveyor and sortation systems, voice and light‐directed order fulfillment equipment, controls and software, robotics, mezzanines, and structures.

Position Summary

This position is responsible for coordinating purchasing direction, working with our internal teams to identify unfulfilled needs and finding/developing suppliers to support or long-term growth and corporate vision at Daifuku.  This will be accomplished by working with cross functional teams, leading, and coordinating initiatives and driving projects that result in new vendor solutions that improve our products and customer deliveries.  This position will perform periodic equipment cost build-up and lead-time scenarios. And will interact heavily with, and must be able to understand the needs of, our management, production, development, engineering, and purchasing teams. The ability to problem solves, identify gaps in data, understand big picture goals, yet work well with managing details, reading people, poses a positive influential spirit and communicate in a collaborative open fashion are key.

• Engages with purchasing, manufacturing, product development, and engineering teams to determine and align new sourcing requirements, establish vendor capabilities, and set vendor strategy.
• As a member of our New Product Introduction (NPI) team, works closely with Product Development, Product Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering and Procurement team to find new vendors for unique product solutions or work with existing vendors to bring new component solutions to Wynright.
• Alternatively, as a member of our PET project development teams, work closely with Purchasing, Applications & Project Engineering and Project Management to find vendors to meet new system requirements.
• Works with internal teams to provide suppliers with manufacturing forecasts to ensure on-time and in-full delivery of supplied materials.
• Review engineering and development projects to identify potential sourcing problems early in the project lifecycle.
• Becomes a champion for cost reduction initiatives; driving activities to help reduce costs on existing components, buy-outs or services that are purchased from outside vendors.
• Leads the cost reduction process for components and services by identifying opportunities, driving process, developing actions and goal setting along with tracking and recording progress.
• Work with Engineering to help create comprehensive RFQ packets, that include comprehensive product scope and technical documents that our vendors can clearly follow, quote against and deliver.
• Review and challenge the organization on Make/Buy decisions by developing financial models to highlight the evidence for or against in-house production or vendor made items.
• Develops supplier performance metrics, then monitors and reports on supplier performance. Performs periodic “Should Cost” and “Make vs Buy” analysis to support sourcing decisions.
• Conducts regular supplier analysis to ensure competitive pricing and that supply risks are mitigated.
• Develops, coordinates and leads supplier performance audits to ensure that vendors are meeting and adhering to Daifuku performance and quality standards.
• Holds suppliers accountable to pricing, schedule, timing, quality and customer service metrics.
• Ensures supplier readiness for any new manufacturing or development initiatives at Daifuku.
• Provides feedback during the project design phase on source-ability of components being proposed.
• Regularly identifies cost avoidance and cost reduction opportunities.
• Identifies and leads outsourcing opportunities and initiatives (sub-assembly options, panel shops).
• Leads internal and external discussions regarding supply-chain lead-time problems and develops a plan to mitigate them.
• Employees are responsible to comply with all requirements of Daifuku’s QMS policies and procedures.
• Employees are to ensure sustainable process outputs that drive continuous improvement to provide leading industry performance and exceptional customer satisfaction.

Education and Experience Requirements

• BA/BS in Business, Business Intelligence, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Data Analytics, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years' experience in a role the same as, or similar to, a Sourcing Engineer or 7 years' experience in an advanced purchasing role.
• Alternatively, those who are currently in an engineering or technical field who want to move toward a more business centered career will also be considered. (For example, an engineer who pursues an MBA).
• ERP system experience required; SAP experience highly desired.
• Military service, any branch, any MOS, NES or AFSC; a bonus

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Requirements

• Possess a high level of professional ethics, integrity, ownership/accountability, and vision
• Ability to influence others and build valuable relationships across the various teams at Daifuku.
• Strong strategic thinking and creative problem-solving skills regarding supply chain. The ability to foresee sourcing problems before they occur is vital to this role.
• Persuasive communication skills for presenting ideas, concepts, and negotiation with internal and external teams.
• Ability to prioritize sourcing efforts regarding cost, time, risk mitigation, and quality in order of highest value first.
• Ability to negotiate effectively and develop or even re-negotiate supplier contracts.
• You will be expected to be an ERP/MRP power user and champion of these systems, working with other teams at Daifuku to ensure the most transparency to our supply processes is realized within the organization.
• Technical capabilities (mechanical or electrical) desired, and the ability to read drawings and BOMs
• Understanding of basic problem-solving methodologies (CAPA, 5Y, 8D).
• Project management experience – The ability to keep multiple projects moving forward simultaneously.
• Strong computer skills using MS Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and familiarity with specialty applications for project and resource collaboration such as SharePoint.
• Familiarity with building reports using tools such as PowerBI or Excel from automated systems is beneficial, and experience building PowerBI info charts a bonus.
• Ability to take supplier data and convey it as information with context.
• Travel of 10% - 20% may be required to visit vendors and job sites, occasionally overnight.