February 11, 2026
In the nine months since joining TDM as Purchasing Manager, Alyssa Robinson has quickly become a cornerstone of the plant’s operational efficiency. Managing the procurement of goods and services for every facility, Alyssa and her team provide a unique “birds-eye view” of the business, seeing firsthand how the needs of each location differ and evolve.
- The core of this role is a commitment to supplier reliability and efficiency.
- In a manufacturing environment that balances both prototype and production spaces, the purchasing team must navigate a complex landscape of differing rules, approval thresholds, and procedures.
- This requires a deep understanding of Ford’s Purchasing
Finance Manuals and TDM’s internal regulations. By ensuring every requisition is individually auditable and compliant with Ford’s standards, the team guarantees that TDM remains a trusted and reliable partner.
Success in purchasing is built on collaboration.
- By working closely with requisitioners across all departments, the purchasing team ensures that every vendor is thoroughly vetted and fully understands TDM’s terms and conditions.
- “It is crucial that our suppliers understand the standards we hold them to,” the Manager explains.
- “These terms outline exactly what is expected to continue a partnership with us. We need our suppliers to be as reliable and cost-effective as we are, and we hold them to those standards to ensure our production goals are always met.”