Product Planner

Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. We pump peanut butter into your jar, the oil in your car, glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows, and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house, and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life.

About the role

Within a manufacturing setting at White Knight Fluid Handling Inc., a subsidiary of Graco, you will have a broad knowledge of the entire factory to expertly forecast, plan, and schedule products to meet customer needs in the most timely and efficient manner. You will be viewed as a GAINS Champion, a Master Planner, train new hires, and implement supply chain improvements. This role involves communicating with cross-functional teams in factory and corporate positions, developing and implementing continuous improvement processes in inventory management, demand planning, purchasing, and scheduling execution on the shop floor.

Responsibilities

• Planning
  • Plan all purchased and manufactured parts utilizing the best ordering approach: EOQ, min/max, fixed days, Kanban, MRP, etc.
  • Ensure accurate planning parameters are set in planning systems - GAINS, Oracle.
  • Schedule manufacturing orders and ensure customer requirements are met.
  • Give work direction and prioritize schedules on the shop floor.
  • Communicate with customer service to align priorities to meet customer requirements.
  • Keep management proactively informed of manufacturing challenges and issues (capacity, machine downtime, and fluctuations in resources).
  • Work with internal cross-functional teams on capacity utilization and sourcing for assembly and machine resources.
  • Utilize the MRP system to create the buying plan, regulate safety stocks, recommend expedites, and de-expedites to meet demand while maintaining optimum inventory levels.
  • Attend and direct meetings with other departments to implement new procedures or resolve inter-departmental issues.
  • Manage inventory to ensure cell objectives are met and in line with company objectives.
  • Manage surplus and obsolete inventory and actively disposition inventory if required.
  • Plan and execute the flow of externally procured material from the supplier into the factory for assigned products ensuring inventory optimization and flow of material.
  • Proactively communicate supply shortages, delivery changes, or quality issues to appropriate personnel in a timely manner.
  • Develop and implement lean supply chain methodologies with strategic suppliers that improve flexibility and reduce inventory liability while maintaining sufficient supply.
• Forecasting
  • Serve as a GAINS champion. Work closely with the Demand and Supply Chain Team on justifying and implementing GAINS enhancements or new revisions.
  • Maintain a working knowledge of forecasting methods and processes; learn any new system enhancements provided in the forecasting system and recommend improvements.
  • Use GAINS to create, adjust, and maintain product and component forecast to drive the Oracle planning system while analyzing supply and demand.
  • Communicate with marketing to refine and improve data to accurately forecast product.
• Continuous Improvement
  • Define, drive, and implement process improvements and systems improvements for supply chain activities.
  • Provide timely, accurate results to streamline and improve processes.
  • Identify and implement best business material planning strategies to support corporate and divisional objectives, providing Graco a competitive advantage in all areas of the supply chain.
  • Lead and implement additional continuous improvement projects to enhance the supply chain process.
  • Identify, develop, and implement inventory reduction initiatives and improvements for on-time delivery, lead times, inventory turns, and deliveries.
  • Support new product development from concept stage through successful product launch.
• Training
  • Provide training on various material-related concepts and processes to new material planners.
  • Mentor and train new planners and employees in other departments on planning systems and processes.
  • Create and distribute training documents as necessary.
• Reporting
  • Create and share reports with other planners that have a positive impact on planning measurable.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and minimum 8 years of planning or related experience in a manufacturing/distribution environment.
• APICS CPIM certification required if Bachelor’s degree is not in Logistics and Supply Chain Planning field.
• High level of experience in planning product with complex multi-level BOMs.
• Knowledge of Supply Chain and lean manufacturing concepts, practices, and procedures.
• Strong interpersonal, analytical, and statistical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Skills

• Oracle Champion: Participates in a cross-functional team for Oracle system improvements.
• Advanced PC skills, including report generation skills (Cognos, Excel).
• Demonstrate a general knowledge of machine types and capabilities within Graco.
• Ability to recognize basic cost-saving opportunities and recommend to the appropriate personnel.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This role is not eligible for immigration sponsorship now or in the future (e.g., H-1B, TN, F-1 OPT).

Benefits

• Medical and dental benefits.
• Stock purchase plan.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Tuition reimbursement.

Pay

The base pay range for this position is $75,000.00 - $131,200.00, exclusive of fringe benefits or other compensation. The final base hourly rate will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, competencies, education, and/or experience. In addition to those factors, internal equity of current employees will also be considered.