NPI Buyer/Planner I/II/III

Crane Company; Burbank (CA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 121,700; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care and dental insurance

Paid time off and holidays

401k plan with company match

Education reimbursement

Job summary

Crane Company in Burbank, CA, is seeking an NPI Buyer Planner II/III to oversee purchasing components for production. This role involves managing supplier relationships, analyzing procurement issues, and collaborating with diverse teams on new product introductions.

The ideal candidate will have experience in a regulated manufacturing environment and strong skills in procurement management. Crane offers competitive salaries ranging from $83,000 to $121,700 depending on the position level.

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement and supply chain management.
• Background in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage purchasing components for timely delivery in support of production.
• Analyze supplier issues and improve quality, delivery, and cost.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on NPI programs.

Skills

Procurement management

Material requirements planning

Supplier relationship management

Inventory management

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Job Summary

The NPI Buyer Planner II/III is responsible for managing all aspects of purchasing components from suppliers to assure timely delivery of parts to support production needs. In addition, this role serves as the communication and logistics link between Value Streams, Supervisors, Marketing, Master Scheduler, and Purchasing.

About Crane

Crane Aerospace & Electronics supplies critical systems and components to the aerospace and defense markets. You’ll find Crane Aerospace & Electronics in some of the toughest environments: from engines to landing gear; from satellites to medical implants and from missiles to unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Every 1.2 seconds, product built at our Crane Aerospace & Electronics Burbank facility is stopping aircraft – delivering passengers and military personnel safely to their destination. Home to our Landing & Cabin Systems team, Crane A&E’s brake control systems and premium cabin actuation solutions are flying on tens of thousands of aircraft throughout the world. You’ll join a business with a long track record of engineering excellence, set in the wonderful town of Burbank filled with great community atmosphere, schools, weather and no shortage of entertainment.

Essential Functions

• Perform material requirements planning through high interaction and coordination with manufacturing personnel, engineering, and external suppliers to support New Product Introduction (NPI) programs.
• Communicate priorities and schedule changes daily to Outside Processing Suppliers and internal teams to support evolving NPI requirements.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with suppliers; analyze and resolve common supplier issues in collaboration with Leadership, Procurement Specialists, and other Buyers to improve quality, delivery, and cost.
• Own and drive inventory action plans to maintain optimal inventory levels and achieve inventory turns goals for key NPI components.
• Proficiently utilize both push and pull-based replenishment systems to improve inventory turns and prevent part shortages.
• Monitor supplier orders to ensure timely shipment and delivery, supporting NPI development builds.
• Manage tactical supplier relationships, including negotiating blanket purchase orders, pursuing cost reduction initiatives, and improving supplier quality and delivery to meet product mix and program needs.
• Obtain and evaluate quotes from suppliers for production material and Outside Processing operations, supporting new product requirements.
• Collaborate with sourcing teams to ensure best procurement practices, leverage low-cost region sourcing, and support supplier assessment and management.
• Publish daily shortage reports and communicate current delivery information from suppliers to relevant stakeholders.
• Resolve invoice discrepancies promptly and manage supplier quality through the Non-Conforming Report (NCR) process, minimizing production impact by addressing discrepant materials with Manufacturing Engineering, Procurement Quality, Supervisors, and Suppliers.
• Work closely with suppliers and Procurement Quality Engineers to resolve Corrective Action Requests (CARs) generated from NCRs.
• Obtain Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) and process return transactions in the ERP system; follow Debit Memo process for supplier rework of discrepant materials.
• Facilitate and participate in cross-functional projects, “Just Do It” (JDIs), Kaizen events, and process improvement initiatives across the site, demonstrating measurable business impact.
• Coordinate NPI/Operations efforts within the solution, supporting Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) for new NPI programs, determining priorities, removing roadblocks, addressing engineering issues, and ensuring timely completion of actions.
• Drive and assist in the transition of products from development to production, tracking and reporting progress of development builds to engineering and NPI teams.
• Provide feedback on design for manufacturability and support the operational lead requirements for each NPI program.
• Maintain and report on critical NPI metrics, including On-Time Delivery (OTD), milestone achievement, and task/action item completion.
• Create and maintain program documentation, coordinating with manufacturing, quality, contract manufacturing, and engineering to execute cell requirements, resource needs, and tool/test equipment readiness.
• Ensure completion of product readiness checklists and support Production Readiness Reviews.
• Attend and contribute to program meetings, including Production/Critical Design Reviews (PDRs/CDRs), Phase Gate Reviews, Program Reviews, and Vertical Reviews.
• Report program status related to material, cost, and delivery to Site Leader and Solution Leader, serving as the primary liaison between product development and manufacturing.
• Perform any other tasks assigned by supervisor or management.

Eligibility Requirement

This position may require access to Controlled Data or Information. Where the position requires such access only US Persons will be considered. As a US Department of Defense contractor, we are bound by International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a regulated manufacturing environment

Working Conditions

• Working conditions are normal for a manufacturing environment
• Manufacturing operations may require the use of safety equipment to include but not limited to eye safety glasses, gowning, masks, hearing protectors, heel/wrist straps and any other required PPE
• May be exposed to unusual environmental conditions such as loud noises, cold temperatures, confined spaces, dust or fumes
• Requires occasional travel to support customers
• Standing: 10% *percentage is approximate and may vary depending on work task
• Sitting: 90% *percentage is approximate and may vary depending on work task
• Lifting (in pounds): up to 10 pounds
• Workspace: cubicle/desk
• Pushing (in pounds): up to 10 pounds
• Mental/Visual: use of computer

Top Benefits

• Health care, dental or life insurance starting the first day of the month
• Paid time off: 15 days of paid time off that start accruing your first day at Crane and 12 paid holidays per year.
• 401k Retirement Plan: 401k plan with company match
• Education Reimbursement: eligible after 6 months of employment

You can see a list of our benefits at https://www.craneae.com/company/careers or visit our website at www.CraneAE.com for more information on our company and great opportunities.

We are committed to operational excellence and world class processes. We employ Lean manufacturing techniques to optimize manufacturing efficiency and accuracy on all product lines. Our products are known for their technical strength, proven reliability and overall value.

In our efforts to maintain a safe and drug-free workplace, Crane Aerospace & Electronics requires that candidates complete a satisfactory background check. FAA sensitive positions require employees to participate in a random drug test pool.

NPI Buyer/Planner II - Salary Range: $83,000 - 100,200

NPI Buyer/Planner III - Salary Range: $102,200 - 121,700

This description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work being performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Crane Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, general identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.