Job Overview

Buyer

Global Distribution Center, Charleroi, PA

Komatsu is a global leader in the Mining and Heavy Equipment industry. We have a position available immediately for a Buyer.  This is an on-site position, with the office and warehouse located off the Bentleyville exit of Route 70, in the Alta Vista Business Park.  This onsite position can be located at our Charleroi, PA Global Distribution Center, Warrendale, PA or at our Franklin, PA facility.

• Manage the entire purchasing life cycle including engineering development, supplier candidate identification, quoting, supplier selection, purchase order entry, purchase order maintenance (move in/outs, expediting, cancellation) to actual receipt.
• Procure assigned commodities to assure quality, cost, and delivery for uninterrupted flow of material to the end user, whether sourced domestically or globally.
• Manage supplier relationships through building new contacts, developing and maintaining positive, productive working relationships, and ensuring supplier performance metrics are achieved.
• Negotiate and write contracts and agreements, in conjunction with the Legal Department, to provide the best possible terms for the company while maintaining strong supplier relationships.
• Manage inventory levels to optimize availability through the entire product life cycle at the lowest investment while supporting all customer and demand streams.
• Initiate and complete cost improvement activities to provide the company with the best total cost of ownership value.
• Fully utilize the business system to maximize efficiency and data accuracy.
• Create training documentation and facilitate training sessions as required.
• Proactively identify and mitigate risks in the supply chain to prevent production interruptions.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain and manufacturing operations.

Key Job Responsibilities

Supplier Management

• Arrange meetings and manage communication with suppliers.
• Negotiate supply and pricing agreements.
• Perform technical and financial analysis of suppliers’ equipment, materials, and services.
• Conduct supplier risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies.
• Protect intellectual and proprietary information in all supplier interactions.
• Develop new sources of supply to support organizational needs.
• Resolve payable/invoicing issues with Finance.
• Work with suppliers to maintain and improve key performance metrics (on-time delivery, quality, cost, lead time).
• Manage defective/excess material returns and recovery activities.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, government regulations, and industry standards.
• Communicate and manage engineering changes with suppliers.
• Drive supplier development and continuous improvement initiatives.

Commodity & System-Related Management

• Build awareness of best practices within assigned commodities.
• Develop and maintain market intelligence on cost drivers, supply risks, and pricing trends.
• Forecast pricing and variances with supporting analysis.
• Lead the RFQ and sourcing process.
• Manage part life cycle and ensure timely availability.
• Serve as a liaison between engineering and suppliers to resolve ambiguous specifications or material shortages.
• Optimize inventory investment levels.
• Analyze demand streams and implement strategies to improve on-time delivery.
• Determine procurement strategies by part profile and adjust ERP/MRP settings accordingly.
• Maintain accurate supplier and part master data.
• Manage MRP messages for effective planning execution.
• Collaborate with global commodity specialists to leverage Komatsu’s total spend.
• Investigate, recommend, and implement inventory control and reduction strategies.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field; advanced degree or professional certification (CPSM, CPIM, CSCP) preferred.
• Minimum 3-7 years of experience in industrial procurement, preferably within manufacturing or heavy equipment industries.
• Broad and in-depth knowledge of purchasing, manufacturing, materials and inventory management, quality, information systems, and engineering drawings.
• Working knowledge of integrated business systems (ERP/MRP).
• Understanding of the mining or heavy equipment industry to effectively support operations and manage supply chain risks.
• Strong computer skills including office automation tools and business systems.
• Analytical and data-driven decision-making capabilities.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, work under pressure, and resolve complex supply chain challenges.
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies is a plus.

Additional Information

Key Skills 

At Komatsu, we value Collaboration, working together with one or more people to complete a project or task or develop ideas or processes; Adaptability, having the ability to adjust to changes in their environment; Hunter Mentality, a combination of traits that can help someone achieve their goals with consistency and precision; Business Acumen, having the ability to understand business situations and make sound decisions that lead to successful outcomes; Application of Knowledge, being able to use what you’ve learned to make decisions and complete tasks in different situations; and Leadership, the ability to guide, influence, or lead others to accomplish a shared goal.