Episode 3: How Major Tool & Machine Uses AI to Streamline Supplier Quality & Win Back 16 Hours/Week per Buyer

In this episode of Leveraged Supply Chains, host Andrew Stroup sits down with Dustin Rutledge, Supplier Quality Engineer at Major Tool & Machine (part of Precinmac), to unpack how a high-mix, large-format manufacturer modernized procurement and supplier quality without adding friction for suppliers. Dustin shares how the team moved from reactive email + ERP data entry to automated acknowledgments and change processing written back into Infor Visual/SyteLine, reclaiming roughly 16 hours per buyer per week and improving on-time delivery by ~1.5% YTD—while suppliers praised the email-first, no-login workflow. You’ll also hear how reclaimed time fuels more competitive quoting and dual-sourcing, and the quality metrics they track to keep programs on schedule. You’ll hear about:The reality of 100+ POs in a busy week for a single buyer and the documentation load that comes with it. Why evaluation criteria prioritized ERP compatibility, customization, and low-friction supplier UX—and where a human-in-the-loop still matters. What tasks disappeared first (manual re-keying, chaser emails) and how automated follow-ups close gaps like missed acknowledgments. How time saved is being reinvested into competitive bidding and dual-sourcing to improve price and resiliency. Practical quality KPIs (e.g., nonconformances per PO line) that predict downstream effort. 🔔 Subscribe to Leveraged Supply Chains for more real-world conversations with supply chain leaders on AI, supplier performance, and operational excellence.