BUHLER

By Staff -- Purchasing, 9/7/2000

Name: Daniel T. Hogan

Title: Manager, purchasing and sourcing (and director, nafta supply operations)

Company: Buhler Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., an affiliate of Buhler AG, Switzerland, a $1.2 billion (1999 sales) manufacturer of large-scale food and material processing plants, systems and equipment.

Reports to: Eric von Euw, president (for Buhler Minneapolis & nafta activities) and Thomas Schnadt, vice president of supply operations (for Global Supply activities)

Responsibilities: He is directly responsible for foreign and domestic purchasing of steel and conveying systems and such components as belts, chains and screw types; 1-150 horsepower AC and special purpose motors; drive assemblies and such components as gears, belts and chains; control system electronics and instruments. He also oversees and coordinates responsibilities for nafta regional supply operations at Minneapolis, Minn.; Toronto, Ont.; and Toluca, Mexico. Member of the executive committee and Buhler Global Supply Operations Board.

Education: Bachelor's degree, Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Naval Academy; Master's degree, Aeronautical Engineering (Control Systems), Naval Postgraduate School; Master's degree, Systems Management, University of Southern California, and a graduate of the program managers course, Defense Systems Management College.

Work experience: More than 25 years in strategy formulation, program planning, technical design and operational-enhancement systems. After 23 years of service in the U.S. Navy, he retired (at rank of Commander, O-5) after serving as Naval Flight Officer/Test Flight Officer, program manager, defense plant commander, and cadre member of U.S. Navy's Materiel Acquisition Professionals. Directed defense-related research and development, materiel acquisition and contract management activities prior to joining Buhler in 1998.

What he does: Supervises a Minneapolis-based team of seven buyers, sourcing from $85 million to $100 million annually. Responsible for coordination and support with procurement departments at North American affiliate sites in Canada and Mexico. U.S., North American and European headquarter orders are nearly equally divided. Capital goods are ordered and logistically supported from Switzerland, Germany and Spain.

Principal procurement focus is on material goods and services to customize process equipment for North American customers. These unique regional requirements are bought throughout North America. He says his role is three-fold: To add value to Buhler through the development and the strengthening of the bonds forming customer-Buhler-supplier triangles; to enhance the internal processes supporting the supply and purchasing functions, and to return "saved costs" to the bottom line.

Purchasing's role in Buhler: The organization's goal is to enhance the effectiveness of regional supply operations. "Value-added members of the integrated project team are tasked with delivering quality goods and services, on time, at fair and reasonable costs." Purchasing is a portion of the procurement-related functions of fulfillment planning and scheduling. Procurement planning is itself a subordinate function of supply management, "all of which contribute to customer satisfaction and corporate profitability."