Thomas Abshire
Santee
Summary
Dynamic procurement professional with extensive experience at Sanyo/Panasonic, excelling in supplier negotiation and inventory management. Proven track record in developing procurement strategies that enhance supply chain efficiency and reduce costs. Adept at data analysis and fostering strong supplier relationships to drive operational success.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Purchasing Agent/ Purchasing Supervisor
Sanyo/Panasonic
01.1987 - 01.2014
- Managed vendor negotiations to secure favorable purchasing agreements.
- Procured raw materials from global suppliers, ensuring quality and timely delivery for television assembly in Mexico maquiladora.
- Developed and maintained strong supplier relationships for operational efficiency.
- Supervised buyers, delegating responsibilities by vendor and material type to enhance team coordination.
Purchasing Manager
Sanyo/Panasonic
01.1987 - 01.2014
- Sourced new suppliers, negotiated favorable pricing, and developed material forecasts to align with production needs.
- Created purchasing contracts to formalize supplier agreements and secure favorable terms.
- Managed procurement operations for San Diego/Tijuana and Forrest City Arkansas factories, ensuring timely supply of materials.
- Reported costs over time and compared with budget forecasts.
Supply Chain Management and System Control
Sanyo/Panasonic
01.1987 - 01.2014
- Developed a streamlined system to analyze material flow from source to factory, equipping buyers with tools for detailed time schedule management.
- Prepared detailed reports for management to track costs against budgets.
- Collaborated with US Customs to implement a rapid import/export program for foreign materials under CTPAT (Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism).
Corporate IT
Sanyo/Panasonic
01.1987 - 01.2014
- Managed AS400/IBM iSeries computer systems to support programming and operations.
- Generated SQL (Structured Query Language) extracts from Mainframe computers to create custom reporting for other departments.
- Oversaw IT SOX compliance for systems documentation and monitoring in alignment with US and Japanese procedures.
- Worked on computer database and operations system migration to Microsoft Dynamics.
- Led migration of Sanyo IT systems to Panasonic IT systems following acquisition.
Quality Control
Wooltex/Century products owned by Gerber
01.1980 - 01.1987
- Monitored product falloff from assembly errors and collaborated with Industrial Engineering to enhance methods and identify errors early in the assembly process.
Production Control
Wooltex/Century products owned by Gerber
01.1980 - 01.1987
- Developed production plans by scheduling assemblies to meet demand.
- Scheduled manufacturing steps for production of children's products.
- Monitored and analyzed production shrinkage, identifying discrepancies to inform adjustments.
- Processed sales orders and developed item forecasts, ensuring alignment with finished goods inventory.
International Purchasing
Wooltex/Century products owned by Gerber
01.1980 - 01.1987
- Sourced and managed overseas suppliers to enhance capacity and secure new products.
- Created Letters of Credit with bank to facilitate financing for overseas supplier purchases.
- Assisted in the development of international purchasing strategies and procedures.
- Prepared reports on international purchasing activities on a regular basis.
Purchasing
Wooltex/Century products owned by Gerber
01.1980 - 01.1987
- Acquired and arranged for all raw materials necessary for in-house production, facilitating timely availability for production.
- Developed and implemented strategic purchasing plans to meet company objectives.
- Managed budgets related to purchasing sheet music, instrument rentals.
- Managed budgeting activities related to purchasing parts, materials, equipment.
Computer experience
Wooltex/Century products owned by Gerber
01.1980 - 01.1987
- Interfaced personal computer with IBM System 34 mainframe to extract and upload data, facilitating timely analysis and reporting.
Skills
- Quality control processes
- Quality assurance techniques
- Regulatory compliance
- Risk management
- Process improvement
- Data analysis
- Supplier relationship management
Timeline
Senior Purchasing Agent/ Purchasing Supervisor
Sanyo/Panasonic
01.1987 - 01.2014
Purchasing Manager
Sanyo/Panasonic
01.1987 - 01.2014
Supply Chain Management and System Control
Sanyo/Panasonic
01.1987 - 01.2014
Corporate IT
Sanyo/Panasonic
01.1987 - 01.2014
Quality Control
Wooltex/Century products owned by Gerber
01.1980 - 01.1987
Production Control
Wooltex/Century products owned by Gerber
01.1980 - 01.1987
International Purchasing
Wooltex/Century products owned by Gerber
01.1980 - 01.1987
Purchasing
Wooltex/Century products owned by Gerber
01.1980 - 01.1987
Computer experience
Wooltex/Century products owned by Gerber
01.1980 - 01.1987