Buyer/planner

Since 1952, Lawson Products has worked hard to make our customers' jobs easier by improving their operational efficiency, productivity, and overall performance. As a leader in the MRO industry, we partner with customers to make sure they have the right maintenance and repair parts on hand when needed.

We’re looking for a Buyer/Planner responsible for ensuring supply availability for the assigned Maintenance and Repair product lines including, but not limited to, developing and analyzing demand forecasts, making inventory plans, and executing buying programs to those plans to ensure customer order fill-rate and corporate inventory goals are met.

This position is located at Lawson’s Canadian headquarters in Mississauga, ON. We offer a competitive benefits package that includes medical benefits, dental, vision, and retirement benefits, as well as a paid holiday and PTO package.

**Responsibilities**:

- Ensures the highest customer service at the lowest possible inventory levels, proactively identifying potential supply chain issues to protect the financial performance of the company.
- Works closely with cross-functional supply management teams and buyers on all supply-related matters regarding assigned products and customer needs affecting forecasts.
- Reviews requisitions to execute buy strategy, ensuring proper timing of releases from suppliers. Confers with suppliers to obtain product or service information, placing orders with approved sources to prevent out-of-stock incidents.
- Reviews critical items on the Expedite Report to maintain proper inventory levels, identifying possible alternative actions or rescheduling delivery dates.
- Reviews Bills of Materials to ensure sufficient component inventory levels for the assembly of product kits.
- Assists in driving the forecast process for multiple strategic categories, developing and maintaining a rolling unit forecast at the SKU level for Canada.
- Forecasts the life cycle of products, managing consensus forecasting for products and business units, making forecast/inventory planning recommendations. Participates in and provides forecast models for new product launches and forecasted promotions.
- Analyzes variances among existing forecasts, inventory plans and actual results, making corrective action recommendations.
- Maintains procurement and inventory records.
- Participates in monthly demand planning meetings with internal stakeholders, making recommendations based on substantiated support.
- Facilitates monthly Sales & Operations demand-review meetings.
- Communicates issues to leadership as necessary.
- Reviews and evaluates supplier performance on a semi-annual basis in support of Lawson’s Key Supplier Program.
- Reviews proposed supplier product-cost changes, initiate cost comparisons when needed, and submit notifications to corporate stakeholders for approval and system updates.
- Supports bid proposals and contract negotiations, preparing purchase orders and providing required information.
- Determines root cause and course of corrective action for defective or unacceptable goods or services.
- Takes action and communicates within the LFOB to facilitate inter-company shipments of overstocked materials.
- Participates in the financial budgeting process, assisting Accounts Payable in the reconciliation and payment of invoices.
- Other duties as assigned or required.

**Qualifications & Requirements**:

- Bachelor's degree, with an emphasis in Supply Chain Management, Operations or Logistics highly preferred, with at least 3 years of experience in supply chain management, in a multi-functional distribution or manufacturing environment, with experience with ERP/MRP/MM, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- APICS Certified (CPIM) or equivalent required.
- Proven track record of success in similar and related Supply Chain Management roles.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to utilize data to solve issues or improve processes.
- In-depth experience using demand-planning and ERP systems, as well as the ability to synthesize large amounts of data creating management reports.
- Strong knowledge of ERP system linkages within Material Management and Inventory Planning, as well as a solid comprehension of purchasing policies, procedures and priorities.
- Able to manage multiple, high-profile product lines with little or no supervision.
- Self-motivated and comfortable leading the decision-making process for cross-functional teams.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to professionally present findings and recommendations to senior leadership.
- Able to assume basic Strategic Sourcing duties or projects as required.
- Good business acumen with knowledge of Lean or 6-Sigma process improvement preferred.
- Knowledge of fasteners, cutting tools, abrasives, electrical supplies, fluid power products and shop-type MRO items is helpful.
- PC literacy in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint pre