Production Planner

Overview

The Production Planner is pivotal in ensuring a seamless flow of materials and communication across the organization to support production schedules and customer requirements. This role manages assigned product demand by maintaining and updating production plans to meet needs effectively. Close collaboration is required with purchasing, warehouse teams, shop floor crews, and management to report on work progression, material supply, and any production challenges.

Key Duties

• Maintain accurate Master Production Schedules (MPS) and Material Requirements Planning (MRP) to guarantee timely product runs and availability.
• Manage demand forecasts, production schedules, and MRP timelines for assigned products.
• Validate incoming orders to ensure correct assemblies are scheduled and requisitioned properly.
• Keep inventory levels balanced across finished goods, sub-assemblies, WIP, and components to meet customer demand, optimize inventory turnover, and minimize obsolete stock.
• Release daily production jobs to the shop floor.
• Coordinate engineering change notices with relevant departments effectively.
• Liaise with Engineering, Purchasing, and Production teams to align with customer delivery dates.
• Track and communicate accurate planned shipment dates throughout the organization.
• Assess production capacity and lead times to ensure steady workflow and load balancing within work centers.
• Monitor and analyze daily production and system reports to identify and address issues promptly.
• Collaborate with Production Supervisors to maintain efficient workload distribution.

Core Attributes

• Prioritize safety in all planning and operational activities.
• Maintain empathy and fairness when planning with people involved.
• Communicate transparently about plans, changes, constraints, and risks.
• Continuously seek improvements in planning and forecasting processes.
• Adapt rapidly to changing demands and unexpected supply challenges.
• Consistently deliver reliable and accurate schedules and commitments.
• Exhibit persistence and determination when overcoming obstacles.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• High school diploma mandatory; a Bachelor’s degree in a related field is preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience demonstrating job capability.
• At least 3 years of experience in manufacturing production is desirable.
• Strong understanding of inventory management principles.
• Competence with inventory management software and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Keen attention to detail with a focus on accuracy and quality control.
• Knowledge of jobsite safety standards and commitment to maintaining a safe work environment.
• Reliability in attendance and professionalism at work.
• Excellent organizational, negotiation, networking, financial, and analytical skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across teams and departments.
• Self-driven and responsible with strong critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities.
• Capacity to manage multiple tasks, work independently or within teams, and perform under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Successful completion of background and drug screenings required.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

• Primarily operates within a manufacturing setting with exposure to noise; occasional work in office settings.
• Must have sufficient vision and hearing to navigate safely and communicate clearly.