Production Planner

Mission

To develop, maintain, and communicate executable production schedules that support customer commitments, available labor and equipment capacity, and timely completion of internal and outsourced operations. The Production Planner coordinates production priorities across departments, maintains planning-related ERP data accuracy, identifies constraints before they impact production, and supports the Production Manager through effective planning, communication, and cross-functional coordination.

Competencies – What This Person Must Be

• Planning & Scheduling Professional: Develops practical, executable production schedules.
• Organized & Delivery Focused: Maintains priorities and follows through on commitments.
• Analytical & Data Driven: Uses ERP, reports, and capacity information to make planning decisions.
• Process & Quality Aware: Understands planning impacts of quality and manufacturing processes.
• Proactive Problem Solver: Identifies risks early and recommends solutions.
• Cross-Functional Coordinator: Works effectively across Production, Quality, Engineering, Purchasing, Shipping, and Customer Service.
• Accountable Team Contributor: Takes ownership of planning responsibilities and communicates proactively.

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning & Scheduling

• Develop, maintain, and communicate executable production schedules.
• Translate customer demand and confirmed requirements into executable production priorities by department, work center, and work order.
• Support schedule attainment through effective planning and timely communication.
• Recommend recovery priorities for past-due and at-risk orders.

Material, Capacity & Work Order Readiness

• Verify planning readiness of work orders before release and escalate unresolved requirements.
• Monitor material availability and identify capacity constraints.
• Identify planning-related discrepancies and coordinate corrections with the appropriate functional owner.

Outsourced Operations

• Coordinate outside-processing schedules, release priorities, and expected return dates.
• Communicate supplier delays and recommend schedule adjustments.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate with Production, Quality, Engineering, Purchasing, Shipping, Customer Service, and other support functions as required.
• Communicate schedule changes, priority shifts, and identified constraints to affected departments.
• Escalate unresolved planning constraints to the Production Manager.

ERP & Planning Systems

• Maintain planning-controlled ERP data accuracy.
• Support improvements to planning methods, reports, and scheduling tools.

Key Metrics & KPIs

• ≥95% Weekly Production Schedule Attainment
• ≥95% On-Time Delivery to confirmed customer commitments
• ≥95% Planning Work Order Readiness
• ≥98% Planning-Controlled ERP Data Accuracy
• ≤5% Past-Due Backlog
• 100% of known planning constraints and approved schedule changes communicated to affected departments within the established notification timeframe.

Required Experience and Qualifications (Subject to Management Discretion)

• 3 years of production planning or scheduling experience.
• ERP/MRP experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong Excel, analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Experience planning and coordinating production across multiple manufacturing departments or work centers.
• Experience coordinating customer expedites, schedule recovery, and changing production priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with MIM, Plastic Injection Molding, CNC Machining, Secondary Operations, or Assembly in a multi-process manufacturing environment.
• Experience in a regulated manufacturing environment (e.g., medical device, aerospace, defense, or ISO-certified manufacturing).

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform detailed computer work for extended periods while reviewing ERP data, production schedules, reports, and manufacturing documentation.
• Ability to regularly move throughout the facility to verify work order status, monitor production progress, identify planning constraints, and coordinate schedule priorities.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 lbs. and safely work within a manufacturing environment requiring appropriate PPE.

Work Environment

Manufacturing facility with machinery, noise, moving equipment, and temperature variation. PPE required in designated production areas.