Sr. Cost Specialist

Industry: Purchasing

Company: Yazaki

Yazaki is a global leader in the research, development and delivery of vehicle power and data solutions.

Yazaki works with virtually every major auto manufacturer in the world, and we’ve strived to maintain strategic and stable growth throughout our 83-year history. Today, we’re on the lookout for energetic people with the potential to perform, as well as the ability to strengthen – and thrive in – the positive work environment we pride ourselves on.

Location: Canton, MI, USA

What we are looking for:

Yazaki is looking for a Sr. Cost Specialist to join our Purchasing team in Canton, MI. This person will accelerate cost reduction necessary to compensate for revenue shortfalls and maintain margin. They will be responsible for calculating cost while analyzing supplier cost structures, manufacturing, and logistic processes. Additionally, they will support category management in fact-based negotiations and leverage supplier capabilities in cost-reduction efforts, and collaborate with supplier, engineering, and other business units to challenge and eliminate cost drivers in supply chain and product design. The ideal candidate will enjoy working in a collaborative and action-driven environment making lasting impacts on the organization. This position is hybrid.

What you will be doing:

• Design and implement all processes, tools, and systems necessary.
• Support the roll out of cost engineering globally
• Lead and support preparation of cost break downs for bottom up calculation, and evaluate cost break down sheets and cost analysis.
• Prepare data to identify measures for cost reduction of purchased parts in alignment with manager or functional expert.
• Support regional and global category teams with analysis and counterproposals to negotiate and challenge supplier market driven price increase requests
• Evaluate, benchmark, and maintain data of supplier rate commitment cards.
• Conduct supplier VA/VE, VSM and cost reduction workshops to improve competitiveness of suppliers based on selected KPI’s.
• Support engineering to reduce cost through standardization of specifications as well as through reduction of complexity.
• Identify, evaluate & deploy cost reduction projects along the entire end-to-end product realization process.
• Encourage and challenge suppliers to submit cost saving proposals to achieve overall cost reduction of products and services purchased and as a result improve competitiveness.
• Prepare cost estimates for purchased components and tools for new business during RFQ phase as well as for running business.
• Lead interdisciplinary teams with the target to reduce complexity and total cost of ownership
• Collect, verify, track, and implement resulting cost reduction initiatives.
• Report savings opportunities and achievements (pipeline) to budget owner
• Present key projects to senior management.
• C02 Emissions, calculations, and reporting
• Develop tool cost estimates from ground up

• Work with our Purchasing leads long with Customer Costing and Sales teams to ensure tool budgets are reasonable and achievable

What you will bring to the table:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field
• 5-10 years of previous automotive purchasing or similar experience
• 5 years of previous experience with cost engineering preferred
• Spanish language preferred, Japanese language encouraged
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office suite and SharePoint with SAP and Siemens TCPCM encouraged
• Travel: <25% local, regional, national, and international
• Ability to resolve issues by applying creative thinking
• Ability to think and act logically under pressure
• Ability to resolve issues or propose resolutions to responsible parties
• Must work independently and collaboratively
• Key Competencies: active learning, analytical thinking and problem solving, customer orientation, results orientation and execution, initiative, and teamwork

What we can provide you:

• A safe collaborative learning work environment that stimulates creativity and exploration
• Diverse teams of experts
• Resources from around the globe
• Supportive leadership and team members to help you do your best work
• Opportunities for professional growth
• Competitive compensation and benefits package including incentive compensation, 401K match, tuition assistance and a generous holiday schedule
• A hybrid work schedule

Yazaki North America is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, handicap, veteran status, or other legally protected status or characteristic. Equal opportunity extends to all aspects of the employment relationship. Yazaki North America complies with federal and state equal employment opportunity laws and strives to keep the workplace free from all forms of harassment.