Downstream Planner

About the role

We are seeking a detail-driven Downstream Planner to manage material flow, production scheduling, and inventory optimization. In this role, you will bridge the gap between suppliers, production, and planning teams to ensure seamless manufacturing operations, minimize shortages, and hit inventory targets.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily MRP exception messages, including past-due orders, expedites, push-outs, and cancellations.
• Oversee material flow between suppliers and the plant to guarantee uninterrupted production availability.
• Monitor and maintain inventory levels to meet established days-of-inventory targets.
• Expedite purchase orders with suppliers and coordinate priority handling for crisis shortages.
• Conduct monthly vendor forecast reviews and regular open-order report reviews with suppliers.
• Update purchase order due dates and maintain accurate planning parameters in SAP (safety stock, minimum lot sizes, rounding values, pallet quantities, lead times, and lot sizing procedures).
• Perform quarterly reviews of replenishment strategies such as Kanban, Reorder Point (ROP), or MRP.
• Collaborate closely with MPS Planners and Production Schedulers.
• Drive finished-good production scheduling, publish daily production plans, and track production order status and barriers.
• Convert planned orders to production orders in SAP and monitor release simulation outputs for missing parts.
• Coordinate with the upstream team to establish estimated arrival times for missing materials and manage the kitting and order-release process by assemblies.
• Track and report on production schedule attainment and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or Business.
• Strong working experience with Material Requirements Planning (MRP), ERP systems (SAP preferred), production scheduling, and inventory management.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Strong technical, analytical, and problem-solving abilities with a solid foundation in materials management methodologies.
• Adaptable, quick-thinking, and capable of resolving conflicts, directing cross-functional groups, and improving operational efficiencies.