Airline Procurement Purchasing Agents

OEMs have been relying on aftermarket support to offset their declining revenues from new product sales. This has resulted in significant year-on-year price increases for original spare parts, hence driving material expenditure for airline end-users. Nonetheless the emergence of alternative aftermarket solutions, such as PMA parts, has provided airlines with an important cost-saving tool. Their popularity has grown substantially over the last 10 years and PMA parts are now a viable option for a greater number of end-users.

Airline Procurement: "The Electronic Supply Chain"... Airlines were early adapters of e-procurement and stayed with it through the dot.com bust and the impact of 9/11. Consolidation may have narrowed the number of players, but experts still see plenty of opportunity. While e-procurement has been around for roughly a decade in the airline industry and has become somewhat "second nature" to many participants, there are still a lot of opportunities for expansion and resulting efficiency improvements and cost savings, according to experts in the field.

E-procurement got its start in the airline industry in the mid-1990s and had gained a lot of traction by the end of the decade. The wheels came off in 2002, though, because of 9/11, resulting in quite a bit of consolidation.

Purchasing Agents with a 145 repair background are a focal point for sourcing, negotiating and purchasing material and parts, perform cost analysis as to in which continent it is the more cost effective to purchase the product from. Essential Functions - Conduct research, evaluate findings, and make independent decisions on procurement matters; - Compare quotes with the specifications and availability of items and place orders; - Organize, update, and retain product information files and purchase order records; - Reviews orders for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with existing policies and procedures; - Prepare purchase orders through a computerized system and place orders for the purchase of goods and services; - Analyze blueprints and material specifications to prepare documentation for solicitation of quotes. - Maintain market awareness of commodities commonly purchased as to price, lead time, or capacity changes. Analyse time, price, and quality characteristics of quotations and resolve terms and conditions problems with vendors. - Negotiate contract terms and conditions, and select vendors. - Expedite purchase orders to resolve vendor problems. - Contribute price and delivery data for preparation of profit plan. Check financial status of vendors as required.

Airline purchasing agents must have the ability to - Communicate orally with co-workers, vendors and suppliers in face-to-face one-to-one settings, or using the telephone. - Enter data into a terminal, PC, or other keyboard device (Example: to prepare purchase orders). - Make arithmetical calculations (multiplication, division, percentages, addition and subtraction) with accuracy and speed manually or through the use of a calculator.