Production & Planning Manager

Production & Planning Manager Overview

We’re looking for a hands-on Production & Planning Manager to lead daily manufacturing operations and production planning activities while driving safety, quality, delivery, and productivity. This role will be responsible for production scheduling, labor planning, workflow management, and operational performance in an ISO 9001-certified manufacturing environment.

The Production & Planning Manager will work closely with the Plant Manager and cross-functional teams to balance customer demand with plant capacity, materials, labor, and equipment. The ideal candidate is a strong manufacturing leader who can combine strategic planning with hands-on execution to keep production running efficiently and customer commitments on track.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and coordinate daily manufacturing activities to achieve production targets and customer delivery commitments
• Develop and maintain the master production schedule based on customer demand, capacity, inventory, labor, and material availability
• Establish daily production priorities and communicate goals and schedule changes across departments
• Lead production supervisors, team leaders, and production personnel to ensure safe and efficient operations
• Balance production requirements with available labor, equipment, and resources
• Monitor productivity, labor utilization, downtime, throughput, and other key operational metrics
• Track and improve KPIs including On-Time Delivery, Schedule Attainment, Labor Efficiency, OEE, Scrap & Rework, and Inventory Accuracy
• Identify bottlenecks and implement corrective actions to improve production flow and plant performance
• Coordinate with Purchasing to ensure timely availability of raw materials and components
• Partner with Customer Service and Sales to support customer delivery commitments and changing customer requirements
• Work closely with Quality and Maintenance to resolve production and operational issues
• Drive accountability and continuous improvement throughout the production team
• Lead Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing waste, improving throughput, and increasing efficiency
• Support cost reduction, process improvement, and capital equipment projects
• Promote a strong culture of safety and ensure compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements
• Support root cause analysis, corrective actions, and quality improvement efforts
• Coach, develop, and hold production teams accountable to performance expectations
• Conduct performance evaluations and support employee development and succession planning
• Lead production planning meetings and serve as a key communication link between planning and production execution
• Partner with the Plant Manager and leadership team to establish and achieve operational goals

What You Bring

• 5 years of manufacturing leadership experience
• Experience leading production planning, scheduling, and manufacturing operations
• Proven ability to lead teams and drive results in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Strong knowledge of production scheduling and capacity planning
• Understanding of inventory control and material planning principles
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing performance metrics
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach to decision-making
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Excellent communication and leadership skills
• Experience in plastics, injection molding, assembly, industrial products, or related manufacturing environments preferred
• Experience with ISO 9001 quality systems preferred
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and ERP systems
• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field preferred; equivalent manufacturing leadership experience will be considered

Additional Requirements

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States
• This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship now or in the future
• Frequent walking throughout the manufacturing facility
• Ability to stand for extended periods
• Occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds
• Ability to work in a manufacturing environment with varying temperatures and noise levels

Why This Role

• Opportunity to directly impact production performance, efficiency, and customer delivery
• High visibility and close partnership with plant and cross-functional leadership
• Opportunity to lead production planning and help shape how the plant operates
• Ability to develop production teams and future leaders
• Opportunity to lead continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Manufacturing Leadership: 5 years (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Byron Center, MI 49315 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $49,981 - $83,500