Planning & Purchasing Specialist

The Planning & Purchasing Specialist is responsible for overseeing material planning and procurement activities to ensure efficient production and timely delivery. This role requires a balance between production scheduling and sourcing strategies to optimize inventory levels, manage supplier relationships, and ensure smooth manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in both material planning and procurement in an EPE factory environment. Key Responsibilities: 1. Material Planning: • Develop and maintain production schedules to align with sales orders, inventory levels, and customer demands. • Ensure material availability for production by closely monitoring stock levels and coordinating with suppliers. • Timely release of material to the production floor to avoid delays. • Lead planning review meetings with operations and sales teams. • Adjust production schedules in response to changes in demand, supply disruptions, or manufacturing delays. • Actively track production orders, manage backlog, and continuously adjust schedules for optimal efficiency. • Identify potential material shortages and communicate risks early, mitigating disruptions in collaboration with related functions. 2. Purchasing: • Manage procurement activities to ensure timely sourcing of raw materials, components, and equipment needed for production. • Place and follow up on purchase orders with suppliers, ensuring on-time delivery. • Monitor and resolve procurement issues, including discrepancies in supplier invoices and material deliveries. • Implement and maintain supplier KPIs, focusing on quality, lead time, and cost (QLTC) improvements. • Contribute to cost-reduction initiatives and inventory control programs. • Collaborate with suppliers to resolve non-compliance or delivery issues, ensuring adherence to company policies. 3. Cross-functional Collaboration: • Work closely with production, warehouse, finance, and sales departments to ensure alignment of production schedules with material availability and procurement timelines. • Provide timely updates on procurement progress, delivery status, and production timelines. • Manage supplier relations, fostering partnerships to improve sourcing performance and cost efficiency.

Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field. • Minimum 5 years of experience in material planning and purchasing, preferably within an EPE or manufacturing environment. • Proven expertise in ERP and material planning systems. • Strong negotiation, analytical, and communication skills. • Experience in multinational companies or equipment manufacturing environments is an advantage. • Ability to work effectively under pressure and adapt to changing priorities. Preferred Qualifications: • Experience with global and Vietnam-based sourcing. • Familiarity with technical engineering drawings and understanding of production processes. • Team supervisory experience is a plus.