Benedetta M. Stratford
Summary
Energetic Valued Team Member and Individual Contributor with extensive automotive experience in Global Purchasing, Product Material, Tooling Cost Management transformation, and Change Management. Able to navigate seamlessly between strategic and tactical deliverables while authentically engaging across teams to deliver prioritized results.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Purchasing Packaging Buyer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY (contracted Through Aston Carter)
Dearborn, MI
12.2024 - Current
• Lead Market Test ($XXM APV) with 14 Suppliers to ensure pricing reasonability in the current market, negotiate and back leverage cost savings with supply base (incumbent and potential new Supplier-Partners) that included $XX books of business.
• Develop and manage Packaging and Kitting strategic project plans to manage risk, build resilience and optimize costs throughout the commodity network
• Collaborate with business operations to streamline critical purchasing and change management processes to improve user efficiencies and incite data driven decisions
• Mentor and guide Packaging buyers to drive robust market test / RFQ activities including benchmarking, supplier quotation analysis and comparisons, negotiations and sourcing recommendations
Program Buyer
HILITE INTERNATIONAL USA
Rochester Hills, MI
03.2024 - 10.2024
• Cost BOMs on New Programs for customer quotes on time
• Lead cost reduction project management initiatives with Team
• Provide Purchasing Program Overviews: communicate with cross-functional Teams daily (Program Management, Commodity Buyers, Engineering, Sales, and Legal) – highlight any potential risks or delays
• Ensure technical requirements are available for the Commodity Team to quote accurately
• Create and present Sourcing Plan and Timing Paths to ensure suppliers are sourced on time and consistently across all programs
• Proactively seek cost reductions through research, communication and planning by applying
effective purchasing techniques
• Lead contract negotiations with vendors on cost save projects
• Report on Supplier Diversity spend and provide options to meet customer requirements
• Provide feasibility feedback for customer quotes
• Utilize preferred vendors for VA/VE workshops and projects
Senior Retail Buyer
ADIENT
Plymouth, MI
04.2022 - 03.2024
• Meet purchasing deliverables according to program timing and budget
• Support VAVE activities, Prepare RFQ, negotiate product changes
• Present Sourcing Business Plan to Source Board Committee
• Perform extensive contract negotiations with suppliers on piece part pricing, tooling, and testing costs during sourcing process to contract finalization
• Vendor / supplier management
• Track BOM, Sourcing, and Amortization (for testing costs)
• Support technical feasibility reviews and Supplier Management
• Represent Purchasing in cross-functional program reviews and program status reporting
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration And Management
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
MT. PLEASANT, MISkills
- Effective Negotiator
- Multi-tasking strength
- Relationship building
- Results oriented
- Reliable, Organized, Dependable, Accountable, Transparent
- Strong written and verbal communications
- Extensive cross functional team mentorship and development
- Strong peer, supplier, and customer relationships
- Core supplier management competencies (Direct and Indirect)
- Strategy Development
- Project Management
- Direct material sourcing
Accomplishments
• Negotiated a 5% cost reduction on piece price and YOY annual business contributions of $500+ with incumbent packaging material supplier; captured in a 3-year MYA landing $7.3M total savings
• Implemented a 6% rebate program on total amount of sales (3-year MYA) including YOY savings totaling $1.8M
• Deviated tooling storage insurance on assets capturing $150,000 cost savings
• Successfully sourced new business on several programs with a positive financial impact to cost targets totaling +$2M by negotiating price reductions on piece prices, tooling, testing and ED&D, implementing business contributions and LTA’s
• Achieved $1.9M in cost savings, exceeding target of $935K by $952K
• Achieved cost savings of over $350,000 by eliminating shift premiums, reducing overtime, utilizing current staff to cover absences, and instituting temporary layoffs.
Affiliations
- APICS – Association for Supply Chain Management
- American Red Cross - Advocate and Donor
- Buyer Certification (Yazaki program)
- Gleaners Food Bank Distribution - Volunteer
- Cub Scout Pack Leader - Akela
- Boy Scouts of America - Mentor
- Homeowner's Association - Secretary / Treasurer Board Member
Timeline
Purchasing Packaging Buyer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY (contracted Through Aston Carter)
12.2024 - Current
Program Buyer
HILITE INTERNATIONAL USA
03.2024 - 10.2024
Senior Retail Buyer
ADIENT
04.2022 - 03.2024
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration And Management
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY