Manager Engineer

KENNETH BUFFINGA

st

** ** **. *********: 269-***-****

Grand Junction, MI 49056 Cell: 269-***-****

E-mail: *********@*****.***

CAREER SUMMARY

A multi-lingual, adaptable senior purchasing and sourcing professional with over 25 years experience in

maximizing profit. Expertise in external manufacturing and supply chain management, domestic and

international sourcing solutions, vendor relationships, and budget development. Additional skills in

system integration, training, oral and written communications, negotiating, import compliance programs,

and problem solving. A creative, enthusiastic individual who has a track record of completing projects

and building strong relationships with external and internal customers.

CAREER HISTORY

KNAPE AND VOGT MFG, Grand Rapids, Michigan 2006 – 2009

A designer, and manufacturer of functional hardware and ergonomic products, distributing to original

equipment manufacturers, specialty distributors, office furniture dealers, hardware chains and home

centers throughout United States and Canada.

Director of Purchasing

• Directed all purchasing functions for 2 manufacturing facilities with 9 direct reports located across

the US and China. Annual expenditures of approximately $85 million, $30 million from China.

Imported 1200 containers annually.

• Negotiated contracts for, and hedged primary metal for flat rolled, steel, steel wire, steel tube and

aluminum sheet and extrusions contracts for Knape & Vogt and suppliers in USA, China and Taiwan,

helping to reduce costs.

• Established and maintained programs for manufacture and importation of plastic injection mold, and

metal stamping tooling, resulting in continual production and additional revenue.

• Developed and implemented metrics documentation program for supplier performance and

development, resulting in a 34% improvement of on time delivery.

• Coordinated with marketing and sales in cross functional new product development and roll out,

completed on time, anticipating additional revenue.

• Initiated and managed annual cost reduction programs of over $4 million annually of domestic raw

materials, improving profitability and exceeding expectations.

• Restructured supply chain and demand planning systems improving inventory turns 75% for

purchased complete finished goods.

• Initiated a factory direct purchasing program for Asian suppliers reducing annual costs by $5 million.

• Reconstructed all commercial leases, with annualized negotiated savings of $500,000, exceeding

expectations.

• Coordinated and initiated all international import compliance programs including 10 + 2 compliance

implementation, reducing customs clearance time by 50% and duties by 15%.

• Re-structured domestic and international freight contracts resulting in savings of $2.5 million.

• Traveled Pacific Rim extensively spending over 3 months annually in Asia, enhancing business

relationships.

• Repaired damaged supplier relationships and company reputation using extensive knowledge of

Pacific Rim cultures and business practices, maintaining competiveness and improving profitability.

KENNETH BUFFINGA page 2

HART AND COOLEY INC., Holland, Michigan 1989 – 2006

A 9 facility division of Tomkins plc, manufacturer and distributor of HVAC accessories to retail,

wholesale and distributor marketplace throughout United States and Canada.

Corporate Purchasing Manager (2000 - 2006)

• Directed of all purchasing functions for 8 manufacturing facilities with 6 direct reports and 21

indirect reports located across US and Mexico. Annual expenditures of approximately $130 million.

• Established international sourcing program for identifying, selecting and managing suppliers in

Mexico, South Korea and China importing over 380 containers annually from Asia contributing $3.8

million in savings, exceeding expectations.

• Centralized supply base across various facilities for volume cost and performance benefits resulting

in 35% reduction in suppliers, improving productivity and profitability.

• Conducted due diligence on 8 companies resulting in 5 acquisitions totaling $173.5 million in annual

revenue as a core member of various Tomkins plc corporate acquisition teams.

• Integrated newly acquired companies, and trained materials personnel on the ERP software,

improving productivity.

• Led cross functional team for ASC divisions of Tomkins plc for steel, leading negotiations for annual

steel purchases of approximately $185 million, resulting in cost reductions of $15.7 million.

Senior Commodity Manager (1999)

Managed annual purchases of over $40 million in 6 manufacturing facilities.

• Cut costs on metals in excess of $1.5 million in Penn Ventilator and Barry Blower, exceeding

corporate expectations

• Implemented a cost based sourcing model reducing corporate metal fabrication prices on aluminum

by $1.3 million

• Trained suppliers in, and conducted value analysis studies, resulting in reduction of setup time and

scrap yielding cost reduction of $300,000 in external fabrication costs on stamped products.

Purchasing Agent (1992 – 1998)

Quality Engineer (1989 – 1991)

SPARTON ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, Lake Odessa, Michigan 1988 -1989

A Tier two automotive stamping and fabrication company supplying Tier one automotive suppliers

throughout the Midwest.

Quality Engineer/Lab Manager

MILL STEEL COMPANY, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1985 -1988

A flat rolled sheet steel service center specializing in distribution of carbon and low alloy steel in sheet

and coil to Midwest manufacturers.

Metallurgical Lab Technician

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, Long Beach, California 1984 -1985

Physical Science Aide/Metallurgical Lab Technician

EDUCATION

Bachelors Business Administration, Highest Honors - Davenport University, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Physical Chemistry Major - Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan

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