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Outside Services Purchasing Coordinator

3-Dimensional Services Group, Rochester, MI, United States


Overview
The Outside Services Purchasing Coordinator is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and managing subcontracted manufacturing services that support production operations. This role ensures cost-effective, high-quality, and on-time delivery of outsourced processes such as finishing, coating, heat treating, machining, and specialized fabrication across both plastic and metal components.

This position plays a critical role in maintaining production flow, optimizing supplier performance, and protecting margin in a high-mix, low-to-medium volume job shop environment.

Responsibilities

Supplier Sourcing & Management: Identify, qualify, and onboard suppliers for outside services (e.g., anodizing, powder coating, plating, heat treating, laser cutting, CNC overflow, injection molding support).

Supplier Sourcing & Management: Develop and maintain a strong, reliable supplier network with redundancy in key processes.

Supplier Sourcing & Management: Conduct regular supplier performance reviews (quality, delivery, cost competitiveness).

Purchasing & Cost Control: Solicit and evaluate quotes for outside services; negotiate pricing, lead times, and terms.

Purchasing & Cost Control: Issue and manage purchase orders for subcontracted work.

Purchasing & Cost Control: Drive cost reduction initiatives through vendor consolidation, negotiation, and process optimization.

Purchasing & Cost Control: Monitor market pricing trends for key processes and materials.

Production Coordination: Work closely with production planning, engineering, and sales teams to align outsourcing decisions with delivery commitments.

Production Coordination: Ensure timely movement of parts to and from outside vendors.

Production Coordination: Expedite critical orders and resolve supply chain disruptions proactively.

Quality & Compliance: Partner with Quality to ensure suppliers meet specifications and standards.

Quality & Compliance: Address non-conformance issues, including root cause analysis and corrective actions.

Quality & Compliance: Ensure compliance with customer requirements, certifications, and industry standards.

Process Optimization: Evaluate make vs. buy decisions based on capacity, cost, and strategic priorities.

Process Optimization: Identify opportunities to bring processes in-house or outsource more efficiently.

Process Optimization: Improve workflows related to outside processing (tracking, communication, logistics).

Data & Systems Management: Maintain accurate records in ERP/MRP systems (pricing, lead times, supplier data).

Data & Systems Management: Track KPIs such as on-time delivery, cost savings, supplier quality, and turnaround times.

Data & Systems Management: Generate reports to support operations and executive decision-making.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).

5+ years of purchasing or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment.

Experience managing subcontracted or outside processing services.

Strong negotiation and supplier management skills.

Familiarity with plastics and/or metals manufacturing processes and GD&T.

Preferred

Experience in a job shop or high-mix, low-volume production environment.

Knowledge of finishing processes (anodizing, plating, painting, heat treating, etc.).

Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement background.

Key Competencies

Commercial acumen and cost discipline

Urgency and problem-solving in a fast-paced environment

Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail with ability to manage multiple priorities

Supplier relationship management and negotiation

Performance Metrics

On-time delivery from outside vendors

Cost savings and margin improvement

Supplier quality (PPM, rework rates)

Lead time reduction

Supplier base strength and redundancy

Work Environment

Combination of office and shop floor interaction

Frequent communication with vendors and internal teams

Occasional travel to supplier facilities

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