Strategic Sourcing Continuous Improvement

Stephen Shook

Strategic Sourcing/Senior Buyer

*********@*****.*** • 484-***-****

linkedin.com/in/stephenshookjr/ • Columbia, SC

Diligent professional with a history of success in developing and maintaining close, positive, and profitable relationships with suppliers. Proficient with procurement principles, practices, and procedures with demonstrated expertise in solving problems using strong business acumen. Exceptional interpersonal skills combined with a proven ability to drive buying strategies, develop continuous improvement initiatives, and manage and nurture talent.

Areas of Expertise

Strategic Sourcing

Effective Negotiations

Operations Management

Budgeting & Cost Reduction

Leadership & Team Development

Inventory & Vendor Control

Stakeholder Communications

Project Management

International Trade Compliance

Lean Six Sigma Methodologies

Business Process Improvement

ITAR

Customer Relationship Management

Analytical Problem Solving

Professional Experience

RemArms LLC

Senior Sourcing Buyer/Commodity Lead

Responsible for leading all corporate sourcing activities domestic and international.

Led all sourcing and procurement operations for a major firearms manufacturer, overseeing direct and indirect spend across multiple categories including raw materials, components, and services.

Developed and executed strategic sourcing initiatives that reduced costs while improving supplier quality and delivery performance.

Negotiated long-term agreements with key suppliers, ensuring continuity of supply and favorable commercial terms.

Implemented supplier performance management systems, driving continuous improvement in quality, cost, and delivery metrics.

Collaborated cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and finance to align sourcing strategies with business objectives and product development timelines.

Spearheaded risk mitigation strategies, including dual sourcing and inventory optimization, to enhance supply chain resilience.

FN America

Senior Operations Buyer, 2022-2024

Establish purchasing plans and strategic sourcing initiatives to optimize availability and cost to support all pistol production. Achieve procurement objectives by developing and implementing department targets including business plan and budget targets.

Liaise with Engineering for all supplier deviations on parts, design changes, and material change requests

Proactively communicate with suppliers to solve accounting issues, pricing discrepancies, and shipping concerns

Allied Air Enterprises (Lennox International), Columbia, SC

Buyer III, 2019 - Present

Develop and implement department business plan, budget, and targets to achieve procurement objectives in alignment with company direction and policies. Control pricing, procurement, and storage of $26M+ in annual parts sales. Establish strategic sourcing and purchasing plans to leverage the cost and availability of goods and services while maintaining inventory and supplies necessary for the production supply chain.

●Earned 5 gold awards for outstanding performance and won the 2021 Pacesetter Award

●Reduced warehouse inventory from $9.4M to $5M while increasing fulfillment rate from 82% go 94%

●Liaise with Engineering for all supplier deviations on parts, design changes, and material change requests

●Proactively communicate with suppliers to solve accounting issues, pricing discrepancies, and shipping concerns

United Technologies Corporation (Collins Aerospace), Bamberg, SC

Buyer and Global Strategic Sourcing Specialist, 2016 - 2019

Drove 100% on-time materials availability to ensure internal and external customer demands were met and supportive of 100% on time delivery to customers. Supported development of supplier and selection of vendors based on capability, quality, reliability, and price competitiveness. Negotiated and executed supply chain contracts while ensuring synergies with customer contractual obligations.

●Achieved 98.4% OTD in 2018 for direct material suppliers globally

●Liaised for all facilities projects, repairs, and contracts; administered a $6M budget and saved company $200K+ in 2018 and $1.5M in 2019

●Served as Material Manager (2018); planned and coordinated company inventory and purchasing; researched prices; monitored inventory levels; distributed supplies; and negotiated contracts

●Served as the Environmental Health and Safety Trainer; oversaw all aspects of EH&S auditing and corrective actions; conducted bi-weekly health and safety training seminars

Gateway Supply Company, Columbia, SC

Inventory Management Specialist, 2016 – 2016 (Contract)

Increased and maintained company profitability by developing and implementing procedures for ensuring that adequate inventory levels were present and ready for use. Identified ways to dispose of or sell obsolete items in inventory. Regularly audited the facility’s entire inventory to compile and present reports to management.

●Restructured inventory layout to expedite material picking and cycle counting; repositioned inventory to improve flow through, adjustments, write offs, and safety

●Trained and mentored junior colleagues in cycle counting and inventory control

Mack Trucks Inc. Allentown PA World Headquarters

2004-2010

Order Services Coordinator 2008-2010

Responsible for the timely build and factory completion of trucks at the corporations two manufacturing facilities. This included factory visits to work with the highest levels of management to correct recurring and outstanding issues related to the timely completion of customer orders.

Worked closely with dealers and customers on updates of their trucks estimated dates of completion.

Developed and implemented corrective procedures for engineering and material issues related to customer orders to ensure on time delivery.

Appointed special projects coordinator for the Customer Order Fulfillment department working to implement and track the progress of a newly developed dealer ordering system and give reports and updates to the highest levels of management daily. Worked closely with engineering and major fleet customers to test their orders through the new electronic ordering system to find errors and omissions and implement corrective action.

Responsible for coordination of all dealer-to-dealer truck transfers and all logistics involved with an outside delivery company to get trucks transferred and any applicable customs documents if moving a vehicle in or out of the country.

Responsible for the build schedule and timely completion of all corporate inventory vehicles and show trucks.

Involved in labor relations and contract negotiations for bargaining unit employees.

Well versed in state and federal labor laws.

Involved in numerous OSHA trainings involving ergonomics and employee health and safety.

Material Procurement 2004-2007

Responsibilities included developing professional relationships with over 120 suppliers to ensure parts were correctly produced and delivered in the quickest manner to our manufacturing facility.

Inventory control including cycle counting and reconciliation of damaged and non-conforming material.

Mack Trucks Inc. Winnsboro SC Assembly Operations

1994-2002

Material Procurement 1998-2002

Supervised all material handlers and parts chasers for the assembly areas under my area of the production plant and the manufacturing facilities two warehouses including automated warehousing systems.

Ordered and scheduled parts to be delivered to the assembly areas.

Responsible for the update of inventory levels, scheduling and ordering of over 500 different parts to meet critical assembly requirements.

Coordinated shipping and receiving processes, including the use of UPS and FEDEX proprietary software programs.

South Carolina State Constable

2022-Present

Reserve Police Officer working with State and Local Police departments on patrol and special events.

Education

APICS CPIM

Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, WI

General Studies

Midlands Technical College, Columbia, SC

South Carolina State Constable Program

Midlands Technical College/Richland County Sheriff’s Department

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