Purchasing Specialist – Industrial Controls

Koester Corporation; Napoleon (OH); On-site; USD 41,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Koester Corporation in Napoleon, Ohio, is seeking a Purchasing Specialist to become the primary purchasing resource for our Industrial Controls Department. You will purchase electrical, mechanical, and control-panel components from qualified suppliers, create and manage Purchase Orders through the Traverse ERP system, and verify orders against BOMs and project requirements.

The ideal candidate will have strong communication with suppliers, the ability to follow technical information, and a track

Qualifications

• Experience purchasing electrical, mechanical, or manufacturing components.
• Experience with ERP systems.
• Strong communication with suppliers.
• Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple POs.
• Experience reading BOMs/drawings is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Review BOMs, schematics, and specs to determine purchasing needs.
• Purchase electrical, mechanical, and panel components from suppliers.
• Obtain competitive pricing considering cost, quality, and delivery.
• Create and manage Purchase Orders in Traverse ERP.
• Verify POs against BOMs, quotes, and project requirements.
• Monitor supplier acknowledgments and delivery dates.
• Expedite materials to support manufacturing schedules.
• Resolve supplier issues promptly.

Skills

Supplier communication

Negotiation

Attention to detail

Inventory management

BOM reading

Excel

Tools

Traverse ERP

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Position Summary

Koester Corporation is seeking a Purchasing Specialist to become the primary purchasing resource for our Industrial Controls Department.

This position is responsible for purchasing materials accurately, competitively, and on schedule to support customer projects and manufacturing. The purchaser will use customer BOMs, drawings, quotations, and information from the Account Managers and Control Panel Estimator to determine purchasing requirements.

The successful candidate does not need to be an electrical controls expert. The ability to follow technical information, ask good questions, communicate with suppliers, and make sure the right materials are purchased and delivered on time is more important.

Primary Responsibilities

Purchasing

• Review customer Bills of Material (BOMs), electrical schematics, drawings, and specifications to determine purchasing requirements.
• Purchase electrical, mechanical, and control-panel components from qualified suppliers.
• Obtain competitive pricing while considering cost, quality, availability, and delivery.
• Create and manage Purchase Orders through the Traverse ERP system.
• Verify purchase orders against BOMs, quotes, and project requirements.
• Monitor supplier acknowledgments, confirmations, and delivery dates.
• Research alternative products, manufacturers, and suppliers when appropriate.
• Work with vendors to resolve pricing, availability, quality, and delivery issues.
• Maintain appropriate wire inventory and purchase shop supplies for the Industrial Controls Department.
• Maintain accurate purchasing information and documentation within the ERP system.
• Develop productive relationships with key suppliers and vendors.
• Look for opportunities to reduce material costs while maintaining required quality and delivery.

Material & Delivery Coordination

• Expedite materials when necessary to support manufacturing schedules.
• Identify potential material shortages or delivery issues before they affect production.
• Monitor open purchase orders and upcoming material requirements.
• Identify long-lead or critical materials requiring additional attention.
• Follow up on outstanding orders before they become production problems.
• Coordinate with Manufacturing regarding material availability and delivery requirements.
• Communicate changes in supplier delivery dates to the appropriate personnel.
• Help ensure materials are available when needed for production.
• Assist in resolving material shortages, incorrect shipments, and supplier issues
• Obtain vendor pricing and availability information for quotations when requested.
• Assist the Control Panel Estimator and Account Managers with supplier pricing research.
• Provide historical purchasing information and vendor pricing when available.
• Request supplier quotations based on BOMs or specifications provided by Estimating or Sales.
• Strong organizational and follow-through skills.
• Ability to manage multiple purchase orders and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong communication skills and confidence communicating with suppliers.
• Strong computer skills and ability to learn ERP systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to compare pricing, delivery, and supplier information and make practical purchasing decisions.
• Ability to work independently and recognize when an issue needs to be escalated.
• Reliable and consistent follow-up skills.
• Experience purchasing electrical, mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing components.
• Experience with an ERP system.
• Experience reading basic BOMs, drawings, or technical documentation.
• Experience with vendor negotiations or competitive quoting.
• Experience expediting materials or managing supplier delivery schedules.
• Industrial controls, electrical, or manufacturing experience is a plus but not required.

Pay Range:

Starting at $30/hour, based on experience and qualifications.