Production Planner

Production Planner

The Production Planner is a critical link between customer demand and operational execution. You will be responsible for managing customer orders and forecasts to determine precise ingredient and packaging requirements while developing a streamlined manufacturing schedule. This role requires a detail-oriented professional who can balance inventory management, Bill of Materials (BOM) accuracy, and daily production needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Production Scheduling: Develop and maintain a rolling 8-week (or longer) production schedule based on customer forecasts and incoming purchase orders.
  
• Operational Optimization: Analyze and implement production strategies designed to minimize equipment changeovers and maximize plant throughput.
  
• Material Coordination: Identify long-lead items beyond the 8-week horizon and coordinate closely with the Purchasing team to ensure materials arrive on time.
  
• Documentation & Compliance: Generate and distribute comprehensive batching documents, ensuring all formula information is accurate for the production floor.
  
• ERP Management: Utilize ERP software (NetSuite) to issue ingredients/packaging for completed runs and perform post-production analysis on cost variances against historical averages.
  
• Performance Reporting: Prepare and distribute finished production reports, including yield loss data and On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) metrics for internal leadership and external clients.
  
• Inventory Integrity: Conduct regular inventory evaluations and perform physical cycle counts to ensure ERP data aligns with physical stock.
  

Qualifications

• Experience: Previous experience in production planning or supply chain coordination is preferred.
  
• Software Proficiency: Strong working knowledge of ERP systems; NetSuite experience is highly desirable. Proficient in Microsoft Office (specifically Excel).
  
• Analytical Skills: Ability to align customer demand with plant and line capacity to optimize production flows.
  
• Industry Knowledge: Functional understanding of batching, filling, and packaging processes.
  
• Communication: Proven ability to engage with customers to interpret demand fluctuations and communicate schedule changes effectively.
  
• Material Planning: Skill in planning ingredient and packaging orders to align with lead times and production start dates.
  

Professional Competencies & Working Conditions

• Adaptability: Must be able to pivot the production schedule quickly in response to changing customer demands or material shortages.
  
• Problem Solving: A proactive approach to resolving bottlenecks and discrepancies promptly and professionally.
  
• Collaboration: A team-player mindset, working across departments (Purchasing, Warehouse, and Production) to ensure a unified approach to plant goals.
  
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills for reporting and inter-departmental coordination.
  

This position requires a blend of analytical rigor and operational flexibility. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment where your scheduling decisions directly impact the bottom line, we encourage you to apply.

Salary Rate: $25.00 – $30.00 Hourly

Reports To: Planning Supervisor