Brett Kuwada
Santa Clara
Summary
Dynamic Purchasing Manager with extensive experience at Microwave Power Products Inc., excelling in supplier relationship management and strategic sourcing. Achieved significant cost reductions through effective contract negotiation and developed robust procurement strategies. Proven ability to mentor teams and enhance procurement processes, ensuring compliance and driving continuous improvement.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Purchasing Manager
Microwave Power Products Inc.
06.2018 - 09.2025
- Assisted in evaluating supplier performance and product quality to ensure compliance with company standards.
- Supported procurement team in processing purchase orders and maintaining accurate inventory records.
- Learned to negotiate pricing and terms with suppliers to achieve cost-effective purchasing solutions.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to identify purchasing needs and specifications for various departments.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of market trends and emerging products to inform strategic sourcing decisions.
- Contributed to the development of purchasing strategies that align with organizational goals and budget constraints.
- Participated in supplier audits to assess reliability, capabilities, and adherence to contractual obligations.
- Organized documentation related to purchasing transactions for efficient retrieval and compliance purposes.
- Sourced vendors, built relationships, and negotiated prices.
- Managed supplier relationships to ensure timely delivery of products and services.
- Achieved cost savings by negotiating contracts and pricing with suppliers.
- Used [Software] to authorize and monitor purchase orders and consumables.
- Established long-term agreements with strategic suppliers, securing favorable pricing and delivery terms.
- Trained junior staff members on best practices in purchasing management, contributing to their professional development and growth within the organization.
- Wrote standard operating procedures for department.
- Developed risk management strategies to mitigate potential disruptions in the supply chain.
- Ensured compliance with corporate policies and applicable regulations governing procurement activities, mitigating company risks.
- Established performance metrics for procurement department, driving accountability and continuous improvement.
- Fostered strong relationships with strategic suppliers to secure preferential pricing and access to innovative materials.
- Developed and tracked metrics to measure supplier performance and cost savings.
Purchasing Supervisor
CPI/MPP
05.2000 - 06.2018
- Supervised procurement processes, ensuring compliance with company policies and industry standards.
- Managed vendor relationships, negotiating contracts to secure favorable terms and conditions.
- Led inventory management initiatives, optimizing stock levels to reduce excess costs and waste.
- Analyzed purchasing data to identify trends, enhancing decision-making for strategic sourcing.
- Trained and mentored junior staff on best practices in purchasing and supplier management.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align purchasing goals with organizational objectives.
- Monitored supplier performance metrics regularly to identify areas of improvement and maintain accountability standards.
- Maintained accurate documentation of all procurement activities, ensuring audit readiness at any given time.
Education
Associate of Arts -
DeAnza College
Cupertino, CASkills
- Purchase order management
- Supplier relationship management
- Vendor relationship management
- Inventory coordination
- Supply chain management
- New vendor setup
- Vendor sourcing
- Contract negotiation
- Procurement process improvement
- Strategic sourcing
- Strategic planning
- Vendor evaluation
- Procurement expertise
- Request for proposal
- Bidding processes
- Document preparation
- Supplier tracking
- Cost reduction strategies
- Purchase orders
- ERP systems
- ERP software
- Coaching and mentoring
- Staff training
Timeline
Purchasing Manager
Microwave Power Products Inc.
06.2018 - 09.2025
Purchasing Supervisor
CPI/MPP
05.2000 - 06.2018
Associate of Arts -
DeAnza College