Buyer/Planner

Position Summary

The Buyer/Planner is responsible for purchasing and production scheduling activities that support operational goals, customer delivery requirements, and inventory objectives. This role manages day-to-day procurement — including MRP interpretation, supplier quoting, purchase order creation, and order expediting — while also creating and adjusting production schedules to align materials, labor, and capacity with customer demand.
The Buyer/Planner works closely with Production, Engineering, Customer Service, Quality, and Warehouse teams to ensure smooth, on-time delivery, and plays an active role in supplier performance, inventory optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives.
This role requires strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills, the ability to work independently, and comfort shifting priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

This role serves as a key point of contact for customers by supporting order management, quotations, shipment coordination, troubleshooting, and account support while maintaining strong communication across departments. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, solution-driven, and capable of building strong customer relationships through professionalism and responsiveness.

Procurement Responsibilities:

Interpret MRP reports within the ERP system to determine purchasing needs.

Obtain supplier quotes for raw materials and MRO items, including new sourcing opportunities.

Create, review, and issue purchase orders, ensuring accuracy of pricing, quantities, lead times, and delivery schedules.

Follow up on order confirmations and expedite orders as needed.

Monitor supplier performance related to quality, delivery, responsiveness, and cost.

Resolve supply chain issues, including material shortages, late deliveries, quality concerns, pricing discrepancies, and receiving issues.

Evaluate supplier capacity, lead times, and risk to support operational continuity.

Update item masters in the ERP system with supplier information, quoted lead times, price breaks, and freight agreements.

Support supply chain cost reduction efforts, including price breaks, freight costs, and lowest total cost initiatives.

Assist with sourcing new suppliers, products, and materials as needed.

Support compliance with ISO standards and customer-specific requirements.

Maintain purchasing files

Scheduling & Production Planning Responsibilities:

Create, monitor, and adjust production schedules based on customer demand, inventory levels, labor availability, and production capacity.

Coordinate production scheduling activities with Manufacturing, Engineering, Customer Service, Quality, and Warehouse teams.

Monitor workflow and production schedules to support on-time delivery performance.

Identify and communicate production capacity constraints, material shortages, and scheduling conflicts in a timely manner.

Prioritize production schedules to minimize downtime and maximize operational efficiency.

Generate scheduling and production reports for leadership review.

Support the implementation of scheduling process improvements and planning strategies.

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION

Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Operations Management, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.

2+ years of experience in purchasing, scheduling, quoting, inventory control, or manufacturing operations.

Working knowledge of MRP/ERP systems, inventory management, and production scheduling.

Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities, both internal and external.

Ability to prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment while working independently.

Proficient in Microsoft Office (particularly Excel), ERP systems, and general web browser software.

Experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.

Key Competencies

Production planning and scheduling

Supplier relationship management

Inventory and materials management

Process improvement

Attention to detail

Problem solving and general business acumen

Shift

• 8:00am – 4:30pm; Monday – Friday

Environment:

• Indoors, heated/airconditioned

Equal Opportunity Statement

Lakewood Instruments is committed to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and value diversity within our organization.