Jim Baumkirchner Email & Phone Number

Lake Bluff, Il, Us

Lake Bluff, Il

• Responsible for strategic relationship of 218 suppliers, annual spend of over $20 million annually. • Manage Sourcing and VA/VE cost savings Project Funnel, annual savings $350,000 – $500,000.• Initiated and implemented price increase/ approval process. Managed DMI & PPV for entire supply base, resulting in cost avoidance of $250,000 - $300,000 annually. • Successfully created and implemented a negotiation strategy to build and maintain vendor relationships, while successfully reducing overall direct material costs for the organization.• Implemented 80/20 supplier consolidation project and Supplier Scorecard criteria. • Manage supply base to obtain product / service information such as price, availability and delivery schedule. Assist with implementation and manage supplier stocking agreements / blanket orders. • Responsible for new source development and maintenance of existing sources. Evaluate supplier performance on regular basis, utilizing Scorecard and OTD information.• Prepares and presents executive-level business updates on strategic sourcing plan that highlights progress, while maintaining corporate business objectives and changes in commodity prices.• Effectively work with cross functional teams and union operations departments to ensure accurate business and technical requirements are met to exceed the customers’ expectations.• Manage entire transportation supply base per annual contract negotiation, pricing, delivery and overall Logistics performance.

Lake Bluff, Il

• Manage the overall supply chain and operations for Turbine meter business line, approximately $2.5 - 3 million in revenue annually. • Maintain inventory levels and perform inventory analysis on product line to increase turns.• Supervise staff and union employees ensuring production goals and over 95 % OTD.• Schedule production requirements and manage all operational tasks. • Review (Bill of Materials), to ensure component inventory levels for production builds.• Expedite deliveries, past due materials, reconcile receiving and invoice issues, to ensure meeting and exceeding customer delivery requirements.

Lake Bluff, Illinois

• Utilizing MRP in preparation of purchase orders to support Sales Order requirements.• Negotiation of contracts, within budgetary limitations and scope of authority. • Manage internal Kanban program and VMI with Suppliers for castings & key Meter components. • Order MRO and Expense supplies. Manage MRO suppliers on a daily basis.• Implement and manage supplier stocking agreements / blanket orders.• Responsible for Logistics and transportation suppliers for organization.

Corporate Office (Des Plaines, Illinois)

• Create and adjust the sales forecast. Collaborate with Sales, Production and Customers to ensure alignment and facilitate forecast implementation. Manage inventory turn goals by category buying.• Analyze system suggested forecast to ensure current sales trends, promotions and new demands are incorporated in production plan. Continually analyze and manage inventory levels.• Manage suppliers to obtain product / service information such as price, availability and delivery schedule. Assist in new source development and maintenance of existing sources. Evaluate supplier performance semi-annually in support of Lawson’s key supplier program.• Negotiation of contracts, within budgetary limitations and scope of authority. Implement and manage supplier stocking agreements / blanket orders.• Review requisitions per MRP, to execute buy strategy, while ensuring proper timing of releases from suppliers. Preparation of purchase orders in support of bid proposals. • Review BOMS (Bill of Materials) to ensure sufficient component inventory levels for kit assembly.• Department ISO coordinator. Successfully implemented a supplier corrective action program. Manages corporate Supplier Corrective Action Program, to reduce defective / unacceptable product.

Des Plaines, Il

Responsible for managing the entire process for military orders in the Addison distribution facility. Also, served as the branch Buyer for Addison, in charge of making buy decisions related to replenishment, back-orders, large direct buys/ drop shipments, and overall expediting of key items.• Managed the processing of all Military orders for the Addison facility from start to finish, while ensuring orders are complete and within due dates required by customers.• Responsible for direct purchase items via requisition review: (Replenishment, direct buys and drop shipments for industrial customers.)• Initiated Purchase Orders directly with Suppliers for urgent Military orders. Also, works with the Specials department and Corporate Purchasing to expedite product for fulfillment of Military orders.• Maintained the Lawson internal Military database with current order status and expediting information. Follow inbound material movement from Suppliers and internal network.• Worked with sales to develop forecasting data for continual improvement of fulfillment rates.• Developed ISO procedures related to Military Processing, Purchasing, and Inventory Control.

• International supply chain consultancy and solution design• Control tower services, managing the operation and providing supply chain visibility• Origin management including consolidation, vendor management and value added services• Freight management across all modes: Road, sea, air, rail, sea air and carrier neutral• Destination management: De-consolidation, port to destination center, and destination center by-pass services.

Responsible for budgeting, procurement, vendor relations, planning, troubleshooting, cost savings initiatives, training, R&D and design improvements. Directed technicians, supervisors and plant associates for Pultrusion tooling and composites manufacturing process in all three divisions (Franklin Park, IL, Greenville, PA and Juarez, Mexico). • Utilized Six Sigma knowledge and practices to facilitate continual tooling and equipment cost savings initiatives, which reduced annual budget from $2 million in 1995 to $450,000 in 2007. • Developed and negotiated with suppliers to integrate a streamlined pricing matrix for both new orders and the reworking of existing equipment. Reduced rework tooling budget from over $500,000 in 1995 to $200,000 in 2007.• In charge of sourcing for all Pultrusion tooling vendors. Researched, negotiated pricing and qualified prospective suppliers. Interfaced with vendors for quotes, pricing discrepancies, scheduling of tooling priorities, returns, and design criteria.• Created annual tooling plan and maintained inventory control of tooling per MRP.• Budgeted and purchased tooling per Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) for the entire corporation. • Initiated customs paperwork per regulations, coordinated shipping, and scheduling of equipment being relocated to Juarez, Mexico. • Established ISO procedures and conducted departmental ISO audits.• Responsible for the design and overall Quality insurance for all Pultrusion Tooling and Equipment.• Managed the relocation, installation and start-up of the entire Juarez Pultrusion facility. Trained new associates in the proper start-up, tooling handling, operations and safety procedures.• Directed cross functional project teams in regards to tooling / equipment installations and formulated transition plans. • Engaged in new product development, product qualifications and R&D trials.

Devised and facilitated die & tooling related decisions in regards to design, planning, ordering, troubleshooting, and tooling / equipment implementations for all Pultrusion divisions. Performed Quality Assurance monitoring, provided training, supervision of tooling / equipment and administration associated with Pultrusion tooling. • Provided vendors with design specifications and criteria for all new and rework tooling orders. Worked with vendors to ensure that all designs and drawings were correct per requirements.• Supported and directed the in-house machine shop, as well as outside vendors for all normal and routine repairs to all tooling.• Detailed evaluation of all tooling at various stages of repair and prior to release for production; provided appropriate inspection reports.• Led and participated in continuous improvement efforts of tooling practices and cost saving opportunities, communicating findings with other divisions.• Researched and developed experimental tooling designs, coatings and monitored tooling; provided guidance and support during the development process.• Maintained various key tooling, equipment and machinery data with Excel and Access databases. This data was used to evaluate cost, ordering needs, troubleshooting, and success of R&D trials.• Completed quarterly equipment / tooling & process training to 80+ associates in regards to proper usage, handling and safety procedures.

Originated and coordinated shipping documents to insure compliance with customs and NAFTA regulations. Shipped & received items by verifying quantity, weight and condition of items; loading and protecting items. Determined method of shipment by examining items to be shipped, destination, route, rate, and time of shipment. Inspected condition of received items; comparing count/measure of items to purchase order. Maintained inventory count by recording shipping/receiving items into Oracle/ERP tracking system. Responsible for the training of employees on proper forklift handling and safety procedures for the entire Franklin Park facility.

Supply Chain Management, With A Focus On Operations Management.

Activities and Societies: Deans List, Human Resource Club, Investment ClubMinor in International Business.

Associate Certificate In Project Management

(Focus areas: Project Mgmt, Negotiations, Contract Mgmt, and Communications).

Associate Of Science Degree, Engineering & Business Management.

Activities and Societies: Presidents Honor Roll