Production Buyer

Brompton Bicycle is not just a brand; it's a symbol of innovative urban mobility. Founded in London in 1975, we have become a global icon, with our easily recognisable design and unwavering commitment to making city cycling smarter and more accessible. At the heart of our success is our ingenious foldable bike – a testament to British engineering excellence. The compact and portable bicycles have revolutionised urban transportation, offering a practical and eco-friendly solution for navigating bustling cityscapes. Our dedication to sustainability, quality craftsmanship, and stylish design has earned us a loyal following of cycling enthusiasts and commuters worldwide. We are on a mission to create greener, more efficient cities and dedicated to our motto – Create Urban Freedom for Happier Lives.

The role

We are looking for a Production Buyer to join Brompton in London. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to start a career within Purchasing, or for someone who is already working within purchasing and looking for a new challenge. Working within a team, you shall be responsible for placing Purchase Orders according to the Material requirements or Purchase Request on behalf of the commodity. You will be actively involved in the management of the material flows in order to ensure that outsourced and purchased products are delivered on time, quality and cost to satisfy customers and launch first level of corrective and preventive actions. This is a perfect opportunity to work on a dynamic network between Brompton Bicycle Plant and the Procurement world. You will drive supplier performance across the end-to-end supply chain in a fast-moving, digital environment. In this role, you will manage a portfolio of suppliers in support of all Commercial Brompton Programmes. Brompton has a global supply chain.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Supplier Portfolio Management

• Daily management of global supplier and subcontractor portfolio using existing business tools and future digitalisation.
• Proactively operate in a procurement community as partner to Planning, Logistics, Quality and NPI team.
• Demand and forecast control, challenge internally MRP demand and unusual consumption.
• Review weekly/monthly/quarterly delivery schedule and forecast with suppliers.
• Monitor and manage delivery forecasts and 'line of balance' through regular interaction with suppliers.
• Anticipation of operational risks and issues to drive proactive and mitigation action plans with supplier and transversal departments.
• Analyse delays, prioritise urgencies, ensure clear and regular communication to all internal customers and that the escalation process is initiated in a timely manner where required to avoid impacts to build through late supply.
• PO release planning throughout the year.
• Requirement of potential supplier visit or anticipation of trade show.

• Use of appropriate logistic and ordering solutions, arranging shipping with 3PL.
• Driving the reverse logistics flows (quotes, return parts, followed removals).
• Follow-up and support troubleshooting for delivery issues, Goods receipt, Technical/Administrative quality notice and invoices.
• Manage & optimise airfreight cost and oversee the airfreight approval process.

• Maintain and Optimise the ordering parameters (batch size, MOQ, Leadtime, Kanban, etc.) on both INFOR and PDM system.
• Support optimisation of inventory parameters (Safety stock, reorder point) with Supply planner.
• Raise, release, monitor and adjust Purchase orders within supplier leadtime and requirements.
• Confirm and update Purchase order data (Promise date, Brompton arrival dates) in Infor as per the supplier’s confirmations.
• Manage reordering tasks after rejection, scrap/damages.
• Maintain MRP/APS/Control Tower requirements filled with promised orders sufficient to replenish stock and cover both demand and safety stock.
• Complete handover of new parts purchased items from development phase (Category buyer) to support production phase.

• Monitoring and improvement of first tier Supplier relationships.
• Monitoring of the Supply Chain's performance (reception, shops, internal transport, shipping).
• Measure Supply Chain KPIs such as OTD and OTIF, OQD, Missing parts, Ordering measures, VMI Level of Service, Stock KPI’s, Supplier rating (confidence level) including collaboration process.
• Support NPI for Supplier selection by providing data such as OTD/OTIF/OQD ratings and supplier knowledge.
• Participate in supplier performance reviews/provide performance feedback to supplier where required.
• Providing oversight of the amount of inventories and implement action plans with suppliers in order to control the level.
• Monitor transit and transit delays.
• Keep accurate records of payment and delivery of goods and services.

• Book GITW item invoices, generate GRN, and log document ref.
• Maintain the IPR site and ensure shipping documents are updated.
• Update container numbers, and tracking ref, BBL arrival dates on INFOR weekly.
• Manage GITW counts monthly and annually.

• Support Supply chain and Logistics Transformation projects and processes, contributing or leading projects that improve the current way of working and/or prepare the future of (digital) supply management.

Key Skills Required

• Self-driven, proactive, and practical
• Good at communication and a quick learner
• Solid purchasing skills, such as supply planning, managing RFQs, negotiation, and supplier relationship management
• Competent in Microsoft office package, especially EXCEL
• At least 2 years’ experience in purchasing within manufacturing environment
• Eligible to work in the UK

Desirable Skills

• CIPS qualification

Education

• Degree qualified or equivalent in a relevant field, e.g., Business Management, but non-essential

Benefits at Brompton:

• Excellent working environment with enthusiastic colleagues.
• Flexible working options.
• Annual Leave – 20/25 days annual leave, plus all UK bank holidays.
• Competitive Salary – Plus workplace pension scheme and profit share bonus.
• Brompton Discount - Up to 60% off bikes and accessories.
• Social activities throughout the year.
• Access to free LinkedIn Learning and opportunities for personal development.
• Mental Health support and enhanced Family, Paternity and Maternity leave pay.

Brompton was listed amongst the best UK workplaces in 2020 and was awarded silver investors in People Accreditation and London Living Wage Employer in 2021.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Commitment

Regardless of age, disability, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, culture, educational background, parental status, neurodiversity or disability - whoever you are, if you’re passionate about your work, curious, relentless and customer-obsessed, we want to hear from you.