Job Description
The Production Buyer is an individual contributor responsible for coordinating material flow across the end-to-end production cycle. This role develops and executes production and supply plans based on demand forecasts, material availability, and manufacturing capacity.
Working with general supervision, the Production Buyer applies practical knowledge of materials planning and purchasing processes to maintain ERP planning parameters, ensure material availability, and support production continuity. The role analyzes operational data, resolves supply and inventory issues, and implements countermeasures to prevent recurrence.
The Production Buyer partners cross-functionally to balance supply and demand across suppliers, factory operations, and customer requirements to ensure on-time delivery of materials and finished goods.
Key Responsibilities:
- Execute material purchasing activities to ensure uninterrupted production flow and adherence to quality and delivery targets
- Monitor and resolve supply disruptions, including vendor-related line-stopping issues, with urgency and ownership
- Maintain and optimize ERP planning parameters (e.g., lead times, lot sizes, safety stock) to support production and inventory objectives
- Analyze inventory, demand, and supply data to identify issues and implement effective countermeasures
- Partner with factory teams, schedulers, and engineers to support inventory control and production execution
- Support supplier performance and engagement in partnership with Strategic Sourcing, including cost, quality, and delivery improvements
- Apply Lean materials strategies (Kanban, consignment, JIT, postponement) to improve flow and reduce inventory
- Participate in continuous improvement activities using Fortive Business System (FBS) tools
- Support New Product Introduction (NPI) execution to ensure material readiness for product launches
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, or a related field
- 1–4 years of experience in planning, purchasing, or inventory control within a Lean manufacturing environment
- Proven ability to solve inventory and supply-related challenges
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and ERP systems
- Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
- Effective written and verbal communication skills
- Self-starter with a continuous improvement mindset
Fortive Corporation Overview
Fortive’s essential technology makes the world stronger, safer, and smarter. We accelerate transformation across a broad range of applications including environmental, health and safety compliance, industrial condition monitoring, next-generation product design, and healthcare safety solutions.
We are a global industrial technology innovator with a startup spirit. Our forward-looking companies lead the way in software-powered workflow solutions, data-driven intelligence, AI-powered automation, and other disruptive technologies. We’re a force for progress, working alongside our customers and partners to solve challenges on a global scale, from workplace safety in the most demanding conditions to groundbreaking sustainability solutions.
We are a diverse team 18,000 strong, united by a dynamic, inclusive culture and energized by limitless learning and growth. We use the proven Fortive Business System (FBS) to accelerate our positive impact.
At Fortive, we believe in you. We believe in your potential—your ability to learn, grow, and make a difference.
At Fortive, we believe in us. We believe in the power of people working together to solve problems no one could solve alone.
At Fortive, we believe in growth. We’re honest about what’s working and what isn’t, and we never stop improving and innovating.
Fortive: For you, for us, for growth.