Skip to main content
Tallo logoTallo logo

Commodities / Manufacturing Buyer

Quick Facts

Median Salary$64,867
Most Common EducationBachelor's degree
Projected 10-Year Growth-5.01%
Assessment MatchTake the Assessment

What They Do

A Commodities or Manufacturing Buyer is responsible for sourcing and purchasing the commodities needed for ongoing or future production in a manufacturing process. Responsible for maintaining supplier relationships. May also be responsible growing supplier relationships with new and/or existing suppliers.


Core Tasks:

  • Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
  • Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
  • Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
  • Formulate policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of goods and services.
  • Write and review product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased.
  • Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
  • Research and evaluate suppliers, based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.
  • Hire, train, or supervise purchasing clerks, buyers, and expediters.
  • Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.
  • Evaluate and monitor contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and to determine need for changes.
  • Study sales records and inventory levels of current stock to develop strategic purchasing programs that facilitate employee access to supplies.
  • Confer with staff, users, and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action.
  • Maintain and review computerized or manual records of purchased items, costs, deliveries, product performance, and inventories.
  • Monitor changes affecting supply and demand, tracking market conditions, price trends, or futures markets.
  • Monitor shipments to ensure that goods come in on time, and resolve problems related to undelivered goods.
  • Review catalogs, industry periodicals, directories, trade journals, and Internet sites and consult with other department personnel to locate necessary goods and services.
  • Attend meetings, trade shows, conferences, conventions, and seminars to network with people in other purchasing departments.

What to expect as a Commodities / Manufacturing Buyer

1Earn a Bachelor's degree

60% of people achieve this level of education.

2Gain skills and experience

See Commodities / Manufacturing Buyer related courses on Tallo

3Land a job

462 openings for Commodities / Manufacturing Buyers

Career Progression

in United States (Nation)

The career progression is an interactive way to explore careers related to Commodities / Manufacturing Buyer. Click on each career to see its associated salary, job availability, skills, and more.