Key Purpose of the Job (Position Summary)

This position is responsible for timely and cost effective procurement of raw materials (non-natural rubber), locally as well as internationally, in the right quantity and to supply it to the right place within the predetermined inventory norms. This includes acquiring resources within budgets, developing a supplier base to ensure long term value delivery to the organization and cost management by ensuring best–price procurement, while ensuring that sourced material complies to CEAT quality specifications and zero production loss at the plant due to unavailability of materials.

KEYPERFORMANCE AREAS

• Cost of Raw material procured vs. Budget
• Reduction in no. of rejections in raw material
• Reduction in no. of stock outs
• Raw material inventory levels
• % adherence to timelines
• Adherence to procedures and guidelines

Functions And Responsibilities

Strategy and Planning:

• Participate in the non-natural rubber procurement plan based on the company’s plans, inputs from all concerned departments and monitor it regularly.
• Ensure optimum stocking of raw materials in accordance with the inventory norms and to avoid unnecessary blocking of capital
• Identify, select and develop vendors in line with organizational policies and requirements.
• Drive implementation of strategies for raw materials to be procured internationally and locally.
• Forecast levels of demand for raw materials to meet the plant needs and ensure that a constant check has been kept on stock levels at plants

Market analysis

• Track regularly and understand the impact of international / national markets on procurement plans of the raw materials.
• Analyze trends and market conditions for current and future pricing, availability, lead time, vendor capacity and quality of materials.
• Review product availability, product quality, pricing information and other market intelligence

Procurement

• Procure raw materials at minimum prices while maintaining CEAT material specifications
• Engage with suppliers on getting quotes, negotiations and placing POs based on agreed terms
• Coordinate with suppliers for prompt delivery of raw materials to the plants and maintain appropriate amount of plant inventory
• Evaluate, determine and forecast future requirements of raw materials at plants and ensure that such requirements shall be accommodated for in the serval procurement plans
• Liaise with plants for collection of qualitative and technical feedback on material performance and forward such feedback to the Research and Development department for further action.
• Coordination with Accounts department at plants for timely payment to local vendors
• Ensuring constant process improvement of raw material procurement by continuous and proactive monitoring of ongoing raw material procurement processes
• Ensure all documentation and compliance for the orders is completed by the suppliers

Coordination with Technology/ R&D

• Liaise with Research and Development to understand the material specifications of the raw materials to be procured.
• Liaise with Research and Development on procurement for new product development and projects and ensure that such raw material requirements are carefully assessed
• Liaise with Research & Development team on requirement of raw materials for trials and ensure that such trial related requests are completed on time
• Seek approval from Research and Development on new materials proposed by or identified with vendors/suppliers
• Hold technical discussions with Research and Development to identify and implement improvements in existing raw materials
• Provide inputs to the plants and Research and Development for possible changes / modifications in raw materials or raw material availability that impact current and future production requirements

Cost Management

• Participate in negotiations with suppliers to ensure best price for the company at an optimum credit period

• Efficiently use inventory management system to ensure ready availability of materials to meet the production targets ensuring zero loss of production
• Constant tracking and updating of raw material availability and persistently seeking competitive rates for existing raw materials

Vendor development

• Identify & develop quality vendor / supplier base for cost effective procurement of raw materials.
• Establish the ideal sources and vendors for procurement based on key factors of cost and quality
• Continually reassess the availability of new vendors or sources for procurement and analyse and shortlist the more suitable vendors, if any.
• Constant tracking to develop and establish suppliers located closer to plants to ensure transportation cost reduction.
• Negotiating and agreeing on contracts with vendors and monitoring progress and checking the quality of service provided by them
• Understand from vendors on new and alternative materials and forward options to Research and Development for further evaluation
• Regularly track vendor approval and status on CEAT online portal
• Maintain long term relationship with key vendors and ensure consistency in performance, quality and service
• Identification of repetitive vendor issues from regular and constant vendor feedback
• Proactive handling of repetitive vendor issues and drive elimination of major repetitive vendor issues
• Ensure effective implementation of CEAT supplier management system.

Logistics

• Interact with Plant, Stores and Transporters for ensuring shipments/ dispatches as per delivery schedule
• Monitor delivery of materials to ensure minimal demurrage/detention of shipments/dispatches

Inventory control and optimization

• Implementing just-in-time strategies and consignment / supplier stocking of inventories where feasible
• Reviewing the stock positions for critical and key materials
• Continuously coordinate with the users to identify obsolete or surplus  materials and make arrangements for its effective disposal
• Facilitating periodic physical verification of inventory at the storage locations in line with the agreed norms

MIS, Documentation

• Evaluation and preparation and of daily reports that outline details of raw materials procured, and highlight the quantity and competitive rate at which the raw materials have been procured