Lori Wischmann

Gatan, Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of instrumentation and software used to enhance and extend the operation and performance of electron microscopes. Review proposals, negotiate pricing, terms and delivery; identify and secure cost savings opportunities and quality improvements; place and expedite purchase orders; control material supply and determine optimal stocking quantities and lot sizes; achieve targeted PPV goals; communicate with internal departments to determine purchasing needs; responsible for tracking late deliveries and negotiating returns on defective materials.

-Administer purchase orders, from creation to material receipt, based on purchasing procedures, using purchasing system reports and inventory classification of data. Enter purchase orders for special order items for assigned branches. Ship material from other Distribution Centers by using shared inventory. -Maintain accurate purchasing, unit of measure, order points, economical order quantities, pricing and cost data on applicable company systems. -Ensure that all electronic data interchange, automated stock replenishment, and faxed orders reach the supplier. Follow-up with suppliers concerning order status and delivery and communicate delivery information to impacted departments. -Review daily supplier shipping error notices and take appropriate action. -Comply with standard policies, procedures, internal audit and Sarbanes-Oxley controls, and quality control processes. Support ISO standards and procedures for document control, purchasing, process control, corrective and preventative action, and control of quality records.

Managed day-to-day electrical category procurement requirements for engineers and project managers, including issuing bid packages, negotiating pricing and commercial terms, and monitoring supplier performance. -Built strong relationships with project teams (project managers, engineers: electrical, automation and mechanical). -Led the sourcing of alternate suppliers, working closely with engineers, to improve margins and ensure competitiveness and timely delivery to meet project demands. -Coordinated required inspections to ensure material was ready to ship per the project schedule.

Direct responsibility for the management of day-to-day purchasing functions for the procurement of a diverse range of commodities (steel: coils, plates; industrial ceramics; electrical & mechanical components) from U.S., China, and UK locations to support production demands, customer service and sales. -Worked with suppliers in optimizing order quantity requirements and streamlining manufacturing processes resulting in a cost savings of $200K. -Led the sourcing and on-boarding of alternate electronic component suppliers to promote competitive pricing, control costs, and ensure inventory levels met projected demand. -Implemented MRO and R&D commodity and credit card purchase tracking procedures, providing real-time order status and delivery information.

I held various positions at this company during my almost 14 year tenure. Listed below are the details.

Responsible for planning and purchasing all components to build custom and production ready measurement equipment. Purchased specialty and standard equipment as well as services. Negotiated price and delivery, proposed alternates when specified materials were unavailable. Negotiated and administered blanket orders. Expedited materials or services purchased. Coordinated shipment and receipt of materials. Maintained return goods system - from obtaining RMA numbers, completing packing slips, debit memos and shipping labels to packing and processing shipments. Developed cost and material availability information for sales to comply with estimates and bids. Served as back-up to Shipping/Receiving and Storeroom Clerks (including incoming receipts, goods shipments and inventory transactions). Worked closely with Accounting to research and positively resolve invoice and inventory variances. Authored Physical Inventory Procedure and entrusted as Physical Inventory Coordinator, consistantly achieving inventory accuracy > 99% thru continuous storeroom control. Prepared and issued requests for quotations, analyzed quotations and made recommendations. Monitored lead times, deliveries, costs against current and standard. Prepared forecast information to assist in analyzing material cost increases and material availability. Initiated Engineering Change Orders. Lead team member responsible for implementation of Syteline ERP system. Served as the ERP system expert for Purchasing/Planning and Inventory Control. Following company restructuring and downsizing, assumed additional responsibilities including maintenance and coordination of Engineering Change Notice process and supervision of storeroom clerk and production personnel. Served as Emergency Evacuation Warden.

During company down-size, in addition to Buyer/Planner duties, responsible for administrating orders from foreign sales representatives and customers. Responsibilities included: responding to requests for quotes, issuing order confirmations, order data entry, creating all necessary shipping documents needed for exporting such as commercial invoices, pick lists, packing slips and invoices. Prepared all documents to process letters of credit.

Supervised two storeroom employees, prioritized filling of job orders and cycle counting. Responsible for tracing all shortages of parts for active jobs and picking parts from storeroom as needed. Expedited parts through the subcontractor processes. Expedited parts through receiving and inspection for more timely delivery to shop floor. Processed all storeroom transactions through Symix MRP system. Team member of Symix MRP system implementation. PURCHASING ASSISTANT 1996 In addition to Data Entry Clerk duties, responsible for purchase of: all MRO items, Research & Development needs and miscellaneous purchase requisitions for specialty items. Responsible for expediting all purchases. Handled rejected material returns to vendors: from obtaining RMA numbers to completing packing slips, debit memos and shipping labels. Set-up stocking program with supplier of small hardware. DATA ENTRY CLERK 1995 Entered all purchase orders, storeroom transactions, and receiving transactions thru MRP system. Assisted with coding and data entry of accounts payable invoices. Organized purchasing and accounting filing.

Completed cross-training of all positions in office: accounting clerk, purchasing agent, customer service, order entry clerk. Assisted General Manager with sales and corporate correspondence, monthly reports. Entrusted with handling confidential reports, letters, union contract correspondence, yearly employee appraisals and payroll information. Created numerous reports to assist general manager in organization of workload. Responsible for scheduling appointments and making travel arrangements. Also assured timely completion of corporate reports. Responsible for updating price changes from suppliers, reconciling and creating schedule price book. Tracked and custom graphed sales calls for salesmen's yearly workload call sheets and itineraries. Analyzed sales calls and top gross profit accounts quarterly. Daily coding and entering of expense invoices for posting to corporate office for payment. Experienced with processing of A/P checks, inventory, cash receipt posting, calculating time cards and entering weekly and bi-weekly payrolls. Purchased bulk chemicals from vendors as well as inter-company branches. Analyzed incoming and outgoing material using gas chromatograph, and titration system.