Buyer's job

Being a buyer is getting more and more difficult. Last time before I become a buyer, I always think that this job is very easy. Just issue PO only wat, what’s so difficult about it? Now I know the smell of it. The actual job for a buyer is source, get quote, chase for quote, get 2nd quote, chase again, negotiate for better price, submit price to boss, if boss not happy with price start all over again lor. Still need to those reports for boss to analyze leh.
Engineer throw you a BOM (given by customer), we got to re-arrange it according to different category (Electrical, Mechanical, Fabrication, etc) then send for RFQ. If BOM got not enough information, need to confirm with engineer. Paper says RFQ is 2 weeks but usually boss will chase for the cost the next day and ask when can give me the cost. You think very easy to get quote meh? For overseas supplier usually need to wait for a week leh. Suppliers also need to get quote from their supplier one mah. You think everyone waiting for my quote meh? Some more we got no volume how to get good price? Got people entertain you consider good liao lor. While pressing for supplier price we still need to maintain good relationship with them leh. Not easy you know.
Then dunno why sales quote customer so low sometimes give FOC to customer. Boss’s boss presses us to cost down the COGS. Get quote from supplier A & B. If Supplier B price is lower, use B price to press A price down. Then use A price to press B price to go lower. This kind of game plays so many times then one fine day all of our supplier will leave us. A good supply chain management is to ensure that all the parties in the chain make profit. If we are the only one that make money, who will want to continue support us if they always make loss?
After issue PO, still need to chase after supplier for the delivery leh. If anything delay boss will question why din follow up? How you consider whether I got follow up or not? For overseas supplier, what I usually do is to confirm that supplier will receive our PO, ask for delivery date, double check again half way through the deadline, triple confirm again when near the deadline, four-per confirm that they already ship out, five-per check the shipment through forwarder, follow until the goods reach the end user. If like that still ask why I dun follow up then maybe should get me a ticket to fly there to help up in supplier’s production and hand carry back with me. Or want me to call everyday to check with supplier? For those 8 weeks long lead parts….call everyday meh. Siao one.
Aiya, anyway can do wat do lor. Those out of my control….too bad lor.