What are the responsibilities and job description for the Supply Chain Specialist position at Summit Racing Equipment?
SUMMARY: The supply chain specialist will have overall responsibility for the supply chain performance of the supplier base they are assigned. This will include planning, execution, negotiating and communication. Manage a consistent flow of product from our suppliers to attain optimum inventory levels at each of the company’s distribution centers. Supply the customer with the best possible inventory availability. Uphold and enhance the reputation of Summit Racing Equipment by promoting goodwill and professionalism within our supply chain community. Maximize the profitability of inventory items purchased considering both acquisition costs and operating efficiencies. Provide exceptional service to all departments within our organization.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned:
Each Supply Chain Specialist will be given a specified group of suppliers for whom they will have responsibility. We expect on-time deliveries with a minimum 95% fill rate. Each supplier is required to communicate any item that cannot be shipped as specified at the time the purchase order is placed. The following list of responsibilities will facilitate our success.
- Responsible for attaining company and department goals set for fill-rate, service levels, acquisition savings and inventory targets and turnover.
- To negotiate additional discounts and payment terms that are favorable to the organization and communicate these special terms to our Accounting Department.
- To act as a liaison between our suppliers and Merchandising team to assure product availability of new product introductions from existing suppliers.
- Give feedback to Marketing and Advertising on any product changes and assist in implementation. Provide savings gained from consumer promos.
- Make sure Sales and Customer Service has information regarding delivery status of all inventory items for communication to our customers.
- Work with vendors to implement inventory information feeds to be delivered via FTP file drop or EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) file transfer. Monitor feeds for validity, and work with vendors and other SRE departments to resolve any breaks in feed processing when they occur.
- Work with Receiving and the OFC (order fulfillment center) to maximize material handling efficiencies and to resolve issues as they arise.
- Work with Quality Assurance, Inventory Control and vendors to address issues related to poor quality, mis-boxed inventory, incomplete parts, and other circumstances.
- Work with SOP Compliance team to address vendor non-compliance as needed.
- Work with Accounting to resolve billing and receiving discrepancies, to help maintain open PO integrity.
- Work with the Costing/Pricing area to support their efforts in maintaining accurate costs in the system. Provide cost structure information prior to implementation of new cost file(s).
- Evaluate vendor terms and policies and make sure they are in harmony with the goals of Summit Racing Equipment. Assist in distribution of this information throughout the organization.
- Assure vendor compliance to usage of the B2B website informational system.
- Complete departmental requirements for Full Line Reviews.
- Perform analysis and system set-up changes when needed for ownership changes within the vendor base or re-sourcing of products is necessary.
- Analyze opportunities for enhancements to department operating systems and work with IT to implement changes.
- Managing rebates both from the Vendor directly and through our APSG buying program vendors.
Execution Responsibilities
- Review Daily Automated Suggested Orders and convert to Purchase Orders as needed. Purchase orders that have exceeded the required review days (#) should be reviewed immediately. Analyze purchase orders and plan accordingly to hit prepaid freight levels. Customer backorders should be reviewed daily.
- Review of Vendor Specials and discount programs. Evaluate programs and specials and strategically place orders to maximize savings. Record offers and savings associated with them in Vendor Management System.
- Review of Vendor and buying group Rebate programs. Document, track, and take strategic action to ensure optimization of rebate achievement. Communicate results to leadership and Accounting.
- Review blanket and forecasted orders. Assure that forecast is on target and make additions or cancellations as needed.
- Part number changes. Work with suppliers and various departments to coordinate any part number changes that arise throughout the year.
- Freight refusals. Work with our Order Fulfillment Center and our vendors to work out any issues due to damaged product Summit Racing receives.
- Review HOT Backorder Query. Evaluate items that are on backorder in high quantity or high dollar amount. Look at all possible routes to get the product in stock or if there are other options we can pursue.
- Review Backorder Aging Query. Will we ever really get it? When? Determine if canceling these orders and refunding the customers money would better serve the customer and company. Manage these orders as if they were yours…because they are.
- Open Purchase Order Reports. Confirm that our open purchase order detail matches that of the vendor. Look for ‘red flags’ that may highlight potential problems (PO age, items partially received, items received on POs placed afterwards). If there are differences, investigate the cause and remedy to prevent any recurrences. Adjust Purchase Order as needed.
- Drop Ship Fee Analysis. Review products from suppliers who charge a drop ship fee to ensure profitability is maintained. Negotiate fee removal or reduction with vendor as needed. Set appropriate flagging to prevent drop ship where margin does not support it.
- Vendor Policy Review. Review to see that the policies of the Vendor and Summit Racing are in harmony. Make sure that their policies and programs are ones that we can meet (e.g. Freight, volume discounts, etc.) and if not, negotiate programs more in line with our purchase volume. Maintain updated Vendor Profile records within company guidelines (18 months).
- Vendor Performance Review. Full line review. Execute full line review process and know your vendor’s performance levels in comparison to our benchmarks. Review their fill rate, return rates, lead-times, on time delivery status, information and communication levels, inventory turns and profit margin. Compare to both our benchmarks and how they compare with their competitors. If they need improvement in some areas, determine what it is that would help them attain our standards.
- Inventory Availability Percentage, IS (Stocking Sku) SKUs. Review what percentage of the IS (stocking sku) items are available for immediate shipment. A query has been prepared to give you these numbers. As defined, if a part is ‘IS’, it should be always in stock. Compare your vendors to the company benchmark to determine their/your performance.
- Inventory Service Level Targets. Review service level targets by inventory classification and determine the course of action that will meet our goals.
- Update our Vendor Management System. Update all information in the vendor menu pertaining to your supplier. Make sure this is current and kept current. This includes all policies, programs, terms, special negotiations, and purchase specials. Information including but not limited to pertinent communications must be stored in our online folders for each vendor as reference as well.
- Micro Strategy (our report database). Use Micro Strategy to analyze data and make decisions based on the conclusions made from this data. We use this reporting software to analyze various aspects of data to make business decisions aligned with Summit Racing’s goals.
- Vendor Deals. Negotiate Show Deals and additional discounts off purchase orders. Work with suppliers to get better programs and deals for Summit Racing Equipment. Log these savings in our Vendor Management System.
- Vendor Drops. Work with areas of the company to coordinate the task of dropping a vendor.
- Monitor and Respond to Microsoft Teams channels. We use Microsoft Teams software for departmental communication, training resources, and special projects. Monitor these channels and execute tasks associated as required for special projects. Utilize the training resource channels and departmental posts for information.
- Provide Weekly Updates to Leadership. Weekly email to Supervisor and Manager to include pertinent information regarding negotiations and successes or challenges with specific vendors, products, or materials within our supply chain.
- Rebates. Record, manage and negotiate as applicable
EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE
- HS diploma or GED equivalent. Bachelor’s preferred.
- 2-3 years purchasing experience including negotiations, analysis and vendor interaction.
- Excellent PC skills: Excel, Word, database programs, D365 experience preferred. Analytical software experience a plus.
- Overall understanding of Purchasing and Supply Chain practices and principles.
This is a hybrid position. First 90 days, completely on-site for training, then minimum of 2 days per week on-site after training.
The Team Member Experience:
We work together to take care of our customers, our communities, and each other. When you join the team, you’ll enjoy a positive, productive atmosphere where people truly believe in what they are doing. If you’re passionate about providing the best experience possible to our customers and to your fellow team members, you’re in the right place.
We work together to take care of our customers, our communities, and each other. When you join the team, you’ll enjoy a positive, productive atmosphere where people truly believe in what they are doing. If you’re passionate about providing the best experience possible to our customers and to your fellow team members, you’re in the right place.
If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance interacting with our career site, please contact us by calling (330) 630-5570 option 2 for Human Resources.
Summit Racing Equipment and its entities provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
