Production Planner

Description

Position Summary

The Planner is responsible for translating demand forecasts into executable production orders and material plans for the site. This role ensures alignment between sales demand, production capacity, inventory levels, and supply chain. The Planner will drive planning accuracy, improve on-time delivery, and optimize inventory while supporting site coordination.

Key Responsibilities

Production & Demand Planning

• Develop and maintain short- and long-term production plans based on demand forecasts, backlog, and finite capacity plans. Manage work orders from creation to order completion. Provide guidance to Finance on Work Order materials and labor variances.
• Participate and provide updates to monthly and weekly Site SIOP Consensus and Sales & Operations Execution meetings.
• Partner with Sales and Operations to validate demand signals and adjust plans accordingly.
• Integrate materials, capacity, labor, and constraints to create feasible schedules.
  
  

Material & Inventory Management

• Ensure raw materials and components are aligned with production schedules
• Monitor inventory levels to prevent shortages and excess stock
• Review MRP to ensure alignment with Demand signals and inventory
• Collaborate with Purchasing to drive material availability and supplier performance
• Maintain safety stock levels and reorder points for raw materials and Build to Stock Direct Materials
  
  

System & Process Optimization

• Utilize ERP system (M1 preferred) to manage planning data, work orders, and scheduling
• Improve planning processes, accuracy, and reporting capabilities
• Participate in best practices and process improvements for Sales, Inventory, & Operations Planning (SIOP)
• Utilize KPIs and dashboards for decision support and identify root cause and corrective actions for improved performance (Site - OTIF, Production Schedule Adherence, Work Order Material Fill Rate, Inventory Turns, Capacity Utilization, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE))
  
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Build relationships with Sales, Production, Supply Chain, Planning, Configurations, and Finance Teams to support consensus management of Supply & Demand for the site.
• Support new product introductions with planning, scheduling, and capacity requirements. Integrate with production plans.
• Identify and resolve bottlenecks impacting production flow
  
  

Continuous Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to planning, scheduling, and reporting.
  
  

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business, or related field (preferred)
• 3 years of experience in production planning, scheduling, or supply chain roles
• Experience in manufacturing environments (industrial or heavy equipment preferred)
• Strong ERP experience with multi-sites (M1 highly preferred; experience with multiple systems a plus)
• Advanced Excel and data analysis skills
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities
  
  

Key Competencies

• Shop floor scheduling and control.
• Data-driven decision making
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Continuous improvement mindset
  
  

Strong communication and organizational skills