Purchasing Program Manager

Yazaki North America - Canton, MI

Full-time

Hybrid - Canton, MI

Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers

About the position

Yazaki is seeking a Purchasing Program Manager to join our dynamic Purchasing team in Canton, MI. This role is pivotal in ensuring compliance with the YPMS/GPMS purchasing tasks according to current standards and procedures. The Purchasing Program Manager will be responsible for managing the overall purchasing tasks, conducting project and functional review meetings, and regularly reporting on deliverables. The ideal candidate will thrive in a collaborative and action-driven environment, making significant contributions to the organization’s success. In this position, you will manage purchased parts by obtaining the Bill of Materials (BoM) with forecast volumes from the assigned Business Unit (BU) and providing timely pricing updates. You will monitor and report on targets and overall supplier status, identifying and benchmarking suppliers to ensure optimal performance. A key aspect of this role involves identifying cost improvement opportunities through localization, direct profit, point of purchase optimization, and supporting Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VA/VE) initiatives, as well as negotiating costs with the supply base prior to program launches. Additionally, you will link and leverage new business opportunities with existing business and the supply base to support commodity objectives. Coordination with commodity purchasing on program sourcing strategies will be essential to offset OEM reduction requirements. You will manage and support all assigned Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and supplier Requests for Quotations (RFQs), track and manage new external components from prototype to production, and ensure contract availability for added and new components. Supporting Post-SOP (Start of Production) coverage for assigned programs and exploring future strategy development in support of management will also be part of your responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Manage overall YPMS/GPMS purchasing task compliance in line with current standards and procedures.
• Conduct project and functional review meetings and regularly report on deliverables.
• Manage purchased parts, obtain BoM with forecast volume from assigned BU, and provide pricing updates.
• Monitor and report targets and overall supplier status, while identifying and benchmarking suppliers.
• Identify cost improvement opportunities by localization, direct profit, point of purchase optimization, and support VA/VE.
• Negotiate costs with the supply base prior to program launch.
• Link and leverage new business with existing business and supply base to support commodity objectives.
• Coordinate with commodity purchasing on program sourcing strategies to offset OEM reduction requirements.
• Manage and support all assigned OEM and supplier RFQs.
• Track and manage new external components from prototype to production, ensuring contract availability for added and new components.
• Support Post-SOP coverage for assigned programs.
• Provide and explore future strategy development in support of management.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Quality, Program Management or related field, or equivalent related experience.
• 3 to 7 years of previous supplier development experience in an automotive/manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of ISO/IATF quality systems, preferred.

Nice-to-haves

• Program Management Professional certification
• Lean certification
• Six Sigma certification
• Shainin Red X certification

Benefits

• Hybrid work environment
• Collaborative team culture
• Opportunities for professional development