This role manages supplier relationships, negotiates pricing, and issues purchase orders based on production schedules and inventory levels. They work closely with planners to ensure materials arrive just in time without causing line stoppages. A skilled professional monitors lead times and global supply chain disruptions to prevent stockouts.
Tell the buyer we're burning through the aluminum extrusions twice as fast and need an emergency drop by Friday.
Also heard as
- purchaser
Related terms
BoM
A bill of materials listing all the raw materials, sub-assemblies, and components needed to manufacture a final product.
JIT
Just-in-time, a production strategy that coordinates material delivery precisely with manufacturing schedules.
Kitting
The process of gathering separate but related parts into a single package before delivering them to the assembly line.