Steve Kuether, C.P.M. Email & Phone Number

Brown Deer, WI

Source commodities, develop supply partners, plan and manage stock levels for subcontract needs. Traffic and Parking commodity management. Continuous Improvement.

New Holstein Headquarters

Manage the procurement function for a growing metal fabricator including supplier selection, contract negotiation, and inventory reduction. Reduced supplier lead-time with schedule agreement purchases to insure raw material availability. Experienced w/kanban pull system for replenishment. Developed work instructions to improve efficiency in an ISO.

Sheboygan Falls, WI

• Negotiated direct purchase relationships where applicable to avoid 3rd party/distributor purchases due to increased volume. Result: First year savings of $120K.
• Modified staff purchase protocols to gain staff efficiencies - confirming acknowledgements, COO updates, lead-time revisions, etc. directed to planners. Result: Allowed more visibility to strategic initiatives at top.
• Enhanced supply relationships with EAU based costing/stocking methodology to reduce cost and improve material availability Result: Averaged 11 percent savings on qualifying sku’s; reduced stock-outs and improved floor.

South Milwaukee

Determined production casting requirements and loaded purchase orders accordingly. Outsourced service (aftermarket) components in the casting, machining, and metal fabrications realm for a newly formed buying team to manage the availability of necessary aftermarket materials.

Greater Milwaukee Area

Demand planning of raw material, sourcing of outsourced services and components, inventory control, continuous improvement of external providers supply chain function.

Wauwatosa, WI

Conducted benchmarking and market test activities among select external drive-train suppliers to insure low cost supplier involvement for the commodity. Managed and tracked 2012 cost challenge initiative to gain 1 - 3 percent cost downs from primary sources of supply, tracked compliance.

Milwaukee, WI

Manage new product offerings from conception to launch including supplier selection, price negotiation, PPAP approval, and on-time delivery.

A manufacturer of gasoline engines and outdoor power equipment. As a Buyer for the Distribution Sales & Service Division, my duties included the management of commodities and suppliers to support service functions, including aftermarket service components, dealer networks and retail and online customers.

Commodity Specialist for a a manufacturer of ignition systems, entry lock and key sets for the automotive industry.Responsible for procurement of commodities, and supplier management.

A contract manufacturer of soft goods and disposable products for home, medical and agriculture markets.; Responsible for raw material procurement and materials management.Negotiated cost reductions, consolidated suppliers to leverage spend, reduced on-hand inventories to improve profitability.

Bachelor Of Arts, Business Administration

I attended the Kellett School of Business in a part-time capacity while working for a Milwauke based manufacturer.

Ba Degree, Business Administration

Associate, Business And Marketing