Buyer

Whirl-Pak is on a mission to make the world safer, healthier, and more productive. We are the leading provider of sterilized sampling and testing solutions used across multiple sectors including food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, personal care, and environmental. Our 60-year-old brand has experienced significant growth in the past several years through product diversification and increased international presence.

Whirl-Pak is an operating company of Filtration Group. Filtration Group is a global market-leading provider of filtration consumables that drives innovation and delivers solutions across a broad spectrum of applications and end markets, with a focus on life sciences, indoor air quality, and industrial technologies.

Whirl-Pak is looking for a Buyer at our new HQ in Pleasant Prairie, WI. This is a critical role with the opportunity to make an impact on the growth of the business through improved execution of processes for procurement, inventory planning, logistics, and distribution. Reporting to the Operations & Supply Chain Manager, this individual will work cross-functionally across the organization, including the leadership team.

The Buyer will be responsible for purchasing, blanket order management/prioritization, inbound logistics, inventory management, and supplier relations. There will be an emphasis on the appropriate use of technology / ERP for streamlining ordering and “in-house” management for improving service to customers through accurate lead times.  

Purchasing

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    • Purchase products by creating and generating purchase orders using the ERP business system.
    • Purchase order maintenance for quarterly blankets and continuous maintenance of inbound logistics.
    • Continuously and effectively communicate with sales and customer service teams to provide insight into lead times, availability, and customer needs.
    • Maintain system purchasing parameters and sales demand data. Document and maintain tally sheets for regular inbound product shipments.
    • Procure and maintain inventory levels in support of the annual Business Plan while considering current customer demand.
    • Work with the commercial team to promote the sale, return, or disposal of discontinued inventory as required.
    • Collaborate with Engineering to resolve vendor-related quality issues as needed.
    • Maintain back-order levels at or below target levels.
    • Expedite overdue shipments when necessary
    • Maintain inventory and replenish indirect company supplies
    • Inventory Control and management

Supplier Relations

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    • Identify and help to evaluate new suppliers for secondary sources and/or new product opportunities.
    • Negotiate favorable costing, discounts, payment terms, advertising allowances, rebates, catalog allowances, lead times, and consignments.
    • Continuously maintain quality complaint portals with vendors.
    • Inform the sales team of problems with products discovered through customer complaints and input into the Teel portal or other ERP locations.
    • Travel - Represent Sampling at supplier meetings as required.

Demand & production planning

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    • Participate in monthly SIOP processes; monitor recent demand activity and include Sales input into the production scheduling process
    • Participate in the regular production planning process with key suppliers and contract manufacturers to determine inventory needs and communicate with suppliers to schedule production
    • Continuously manage inbound logistics for sterilization of products.
    • Be agile as needs of the organization change to ensure adequate inventory supply. A balance of supply and demand is the target.
    • Continually evaluate planning process for improvement opportunities and implement changes needed.
    • Work with commercial team and customer service to coordinate shipment and timely delivery of samples.

Facility Management

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    • Maintain facility maintenance schedule, schedule maintenance as necessary
    • Ensure machines and equipment are maintained
    • Assist in warehouse operation as needed

*Any and all other assigned tasks from management team*