John Watkins
Northfield,MN
Summary
Accomplished Senior Buyer offering [Number] years of experience in researching and purchasing highly-desirable products to meet consumer needs. Talented in building strong relationships with top suppliers and negotiating prices for best value when making purchases. Expert in maintaining in-depth knowledge of product trends and current market pricing.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Buyer
Trystar
01.2023 - Current
- Coordinates with Sales, Manufacturing, and Scheduling to ensure adequate supply and timely delivery and procurement of raw materials
- Maintains inventory of materials and supplies by managing re-order points and order quantity on a continuous basis
- Sources new and substitute materials where appropriate which may offer opportunities for price breaks
- Stays current within assigned area of material expertise to ensure latest technology is available if applicable
- Develops a favorable and ongoing working relationship with key suppliers to ensure reasonable pricing and service level required by the Company
- Participates in the negotiations of major supply contracts and negotiates agreements with vendors
- Collaborates with the Supply Chain and Operations team to evaluate processes and assist in implementing solutions to meet the business needs of the Company
- Assists in establishing guidelines and procedures for purchasing and monitors contracts for compliance with such procedures
- Updates and maintains database to assure correct pricing
- Reviews MRP and requisitions to focus on combining purchase orders where possible and forecasts future purchasing needs to gain the best possible purchase price
- Performs vendor evaluations in reference to vendor pricing, service, on time delivery and quality
- This evaluation is reviewed with strategic suppliers and used for the selection of suppliers for future business and provides basis for corrective action if needed
- Leads and assists in projects as assigned by Supply Chain Manager and other duties as assigned.
Senior Buyer
Intek Plastics
04.2022 - 01.2023
- Coordinates with Sales, Manufacturing, and Scheduling to ensure adequate supply and timely delivery and procurement of raw materials
- Maintains inventory of materials and supplies by managing re-order points and order quantity on a continuous basis
- Performs analysis of raw material inventory to optimize company resources and meet customer needs
- Sources new and substitute materials where appropriate which may offer opportunities for price breaks
- Stays current within assigned area of material expertise to ensure latest technology is available if applicable
- Develops a favorable and ongoing working relationship with key suppliers to ensure reasonable pricing and service level required by the Company
- Participates in the negotiations of major supply contracts and negotiates agreements with vendors
- Collaborates with the Supply Chain and Operations team to evaluate processes and assist in implementing solutions to meet the business needs of the Company
- Analyzes raw material to identify obsolete materials
- Works within the organization to determine disposition of obsolete materials
- As well as manages the assigned commodity inventory cycle counts
- Evaluates transactions to resolve count discrepancies and maintain cycle counting records
- Assists in establishing guidelines and procedures for purchasing and monitors contracts for compliance with such procedures
- Updates and maintains database to assure correct pricing
- Reviews MRP and requisitions to focus on combining purchase orders where possible and forecasts future purchasing needs to gain the best possible purchase price
- Performs vendor evaluations in reference to vendor pricing, service, on time delivery and quality
- This evaluation is reviewed with strategic suppliers and used for the selection of suppliers for future business and provides basis for corrective action if needed
- Leads and assists in projects as assigned by Supply Chain Manager and other duties as assigned.
Purchasing Agent
CertainTeed - St. Gobain
02.2021 - 01.2022
- Function as both a tactical and strategic Purchaser for the site and business unit
- Coordinates and leads all site-level RFPs for both local OpEx and CapEx purchases (per the requirements definition phase) which includes vendor negotiations through to the contract signature (if applicable), and PO creation
- Negotiate, audit, and retain all agreements using CertainTeed’s document repository [ProcureNet]
- Drive compliance for MRO and Agora use at the site level
- Utilize the company’s digital tools to ensure everything is bid out according to policy, vendors are validated, and savings/avoidance is properly tracked/reported
- Process purchase orders and notify vendors for requested materials, parts, and services which may include contract preparation, SGCT Drug & Alcohol Policy, and other requirements
- Evaluate spend and develop portfolio which to determines which vendors should be contracted along with action plan
- Resolve invoice and GRIR issues in a timely manner by collaborating with the vendor, AP, project managers, and requisitions
- Ensure Purchase Orders are acknowledged/tracked/closed timely and reviewed weekly for accuracy
- Function as both a tactical and strategic Purchaser for the site and business unit
- Coordinates and leads all site-level RFPs for both local OpEx and CapEx purchases (per the requirements definition phase) which includes vendor negotiations through to the contract signature (if applicable), and PO creation
- Negotiate, audit, and retain all agreements using CertainTeed’s document repository [ProcureNet]
- Drive compliance for MRO and Agora use at the site level
- Utilize the company’s digital tools to ensure everything is bid out according to policy, vendors are validated, and savings/avoidance is properly tracked/reported
- Process purchase orders and notify vendors for requested materials, parts, and services which may include contract preparation, SGCT Drug & Alcohol Policy, and other requirements
- Evaluate spend and develop portfolio which to determines which vendors should be contracted along with action plan.
Senior Purchasing Agent
Commercial Plastics
04.2020 - 11.2020
- Same job responsibilities as Imperial
Senior Purchasing Agent
Imperial Plastics, Inc
02.2018 - 04.2020
- Manage purchase orders and invoices as required
- Maintain purchase order action messages daily to maintain appropriate inventory levels
- Utilizes Visual ERP system and maintains extensive knowledge and understanding of how Visual functions to support daily purchasing tasks
- Maintain part maintenance for all raw material (resin/ colorants) for both plants
- Contribute to Supply Chain goals including cost reduction targets and increased spend by utilization of preferred supplier contracts and new sourcing opportunities to meet cost targets
- Ensure materials, equipment, and supplies are ordered and delivered on time to support the needs of the business
- Evaluate and negotiate with potential suppliers based on their product quality, cost, delivery, payment terms and services to meet the needs of the business
- Responsible for communication flow between suppliers and A/P to ensure timely and accurate payments to suppliers
- Get quotes for raw materials for sales team from current vendors
- Manage updates in the planning system to ensure accurate purchasing actions
- Meet with sales team members from our vendors to maintain open dialog and relationships for open communication on quotes, new line items and updated pricing
- Full use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and Access/Manage purchase orders and invoices as required
- Maintain purchase order action messages daily to maintain appropriate inventory levels Utilizes Visual ERP system and maintains extensive knowledge and understanding of how Visual functions to support daily purchasing tasks
- Maintain part maintenance for all raw material (resin/ colorants) for both plants
- Contribute to Supply Chain goals including cost reduction targets and increased spend by utilization of preferred supplier contracts and new sourcing opportunities to meet cost targets
- Ensure materials, equipment, and supplies are ordered and delivered on time to support the needs of the business
- Evaluate and negotiate with potential suppliers based on their product quality, cost, delivery, payment terms and services to meet the needs of the business
- Responsible for communication flow between suppliers and A/P to ensure timely and accurate payments to suppliers
- Meet with sales team members from our vendors to maintain open dialog and relationships for open communication on quotes, new line items and updated pricing
- Full use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Access
Inventory Manager / Buyer
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc
01.2016 - 02.2018
- Inventory Control management of all raw materials ordered
- Receive items off shipping trucks, record receiving in SAP, stage jobs on schedule, put away items that may return from completed jobs in field
- Order all items/supplies needed for the techs at job sites
- Ship product to customers when ordered
- Manage all RMA issues
- Purchasing service repair parts from approved vendors
- Collaborate with vendors on lead times, shipment (LTL, UPS, and Fed Ex) schedules
- Inventory Control management of all raw materials ordered
- Receive items off shipping trucks, record receiving in SAP, stage jobs on schedule, put away items that may return from completed jobs in field
- Order all items/supplies needed for the techs at job sites
- Ship product to customers when ordered
- Manage all RMA issues
- Purchasing service repair parts from approved vendors
- Collaborate with vendors on lead times, shipment (LTL, UPS, and Fed Ex) schedules.
Inventory Manager
Faribault Woolen Mill
05.2012 - 12.2015
- Creating work orders for nine levels of the manufacturing process daily
- Tracking inventory from raw wool to finished product
- Cycle counts all levels of inventory monthly
- Set up processes for consumption and receiving of product
- Program, train employees on handheld scanning procedures to move inventory accurately within the facility
- Work with sales team, production management, and controller to ensure inventory levels are accurate daily
- Help give tours to groups that visit.
Shipping Clerk – Inventory
Analog Technologies Corp
07.2011 - 05.2012
- Shipping assembled circuit boards to local and international customers
- Using UPS, Fed Ex, and couriers to ship
- Familiar with shipping UPS and Fed Ex online internationally
- Knowledge of tariff codes for international shipping
- Cycle counts of finish goods weekly
- Daily use of Vantage/ Epicor software.
Recruiter
Aerotek Commercial Staffing
09.2010 - 06.2011
- Placing people in jobs for clients based on needs and qualifications
- Completing interviews, updating resumes, and working within office team to meet goals.
Inventory Manager
Imperial Plastics Inc.
08.2005 - 09.2010
- Manager of 15-20 Material Handlers/Warehouse personnel
- Cycle Count Inventory Monthly
- Ensure correct issuing/receiving/issue returning raw material to work orders
- Working w/ Product Managers and Lead Techs to ensure all items are correct in the system
- Complete annual reviews of people reporting to me
- Knowledge of Visual ERP software, Microsoft Access/Excel/Word/Power Point.
Security Screener
US Department of Homeland Security
09.2002 - 08.2005
- Responsible for screening passengers at checkpoints in Federal Airports
- Responsible for screening passenger’s baggage before being loaded for flight
- Certified on IMT, CTX, ETD and all passenger screening methods.
Purchasing Manager
Access Communications Inc
02.2001 - 09.2002
- Ordering of data-com hardware, copper cable, fiber optics, and computer products
- Keep the pricing of vendors at a standard amount
- Ensure the invoices equal that of what was paid
- Compare prices to keep company costs down
- Assisting the Sales Department with quotes for upcoming projects
- Following up with the customer when product was bought without installation by our company
- Knowledge of Peachtree Accounting Software.
Education
Associate of Arts and Sciences (A.A.S.) - Network and System Administration
Dakota County Technical College
05.2020
Skills
- ERP System Knowledge
- Supplier Negotiations
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Purchasing strategy
- Adept in Epicor, SAP, MS Great Plains, Infor Visual
- Cost Analysis
- Strategic Sourcing
- Vendor Negotiations
Timeline
Senior Buyer
Trystar
01.2023 - Current
Senior Buyer
Intek Plastics
04.2022 - 01.2023
Purchasing Agent
CertainTeed - St. Gobain
02.2021 - 01.2022
Senior Purchasing Agent
Commercial Plastics
04.2020 - 11.2020
Senior Purchasing Agent
Imperial Plastics, Inc
02.2018 - 04.2020
Inventory Manager / Buyer
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc
01.2016 - 02.2018
Inventory Manager
Faribault Woolen Mill
05.2012 - 12.2015
Shipping Clerk – Inventory
Analog Technologies Corp
07.2011 - 05.2012
Recruiter
Aerotek Commercial Staffing
09.2010 - 06.2011
Inventory Manager
Imperial Plastics Inc.
08.2005 - 09.2010
Security Screener
US Department of Homeland Security
09.2002 - 08.2005
Purchasing Manager
Access Communications Inc
02.2001 - 09.2002
Associate of Arts and Sciences (A.A.S.) - Network and System Administration
Dakota County Technical College