Production Planner

Role Summary

The Production Planner is responsible for developing and maintaining feasible production schedules that balance customer demand, capacity, inventory targets, and operational constraints. This role acts as the central integrator between Sales, Operations, Procurement, and Manufacturing to ensure on-time delivery, stable production flow, and optimal inventory levels.

Key Responsibilities

• Production Planning & Scheduling
  • Develop and maintain master production schedules (MPS) aligned with demand forecasts, customer orders, and inventory strategies
  • Translate sales forecasts and firm orders into executable production plans
  • Optimize schedules to balance capacity, labor, materials, and equipment constraints
  • Sequence production orders to minimize changeovers, downtime, and waste
  • Maintain planning parameters (lead times, lot sizes, safety stock) in ERP/MRP systems
• Cross-Functional Coordination
  • Partner with Sales, Customer Service, Operations, and Procurement to align priorities and resolve conflicts
  • Participate in S&OP / IBP processes, providing schedule feasibility and capacity insights
  • Communicate schedule changes, risks, and tradeoffs clearly to stakeholders
• Inventory & Material Alignment
  • Ensure production plans support inventory targets for raw materials, WIP, and finished goods
  • Collaborate with purchasing to align production schedules with supplier lead times and constraints
  • Proactively identify material shortages or excess risks and recommend mitigation actions
• Performance Management & Continuous Improvement
  • Track and analyze KPIs such as schedule adherence, on-time delivery, inventory turns, and capacity utilization
  • Identify root causes of schedule disruptions and drive corrective actions
  • Support lean, continuous improvement, and system optimization initiatives
  • Maintain accurate master data to ensure planning integrity

Key Metrics for Success

• Schedule adherence / plan attainment
• Customer on-time-in-full (OTIF)
• Inventory turns and excess/obsolete inventory
• Capacity utilization
• Forecast-to-plan alignment

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Industrial Engineering, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 3–7 years of experience in production planning, master scheduling, or manufacturing supply chain
• Strong working knowledge of MRP/ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, JD Edwards, etc.)
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, formulas, scenario analysis)
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities

Preferred Qualifications

• APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP)
• Experience supporting S&OP / IBP processes
• Experience in a multi-product, variable-demand manufacturing environment
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles

Critical Skills & Competencies

• Ability to balance competing priorities and make tradeoff decisions
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Attention to data accuracy and detail
• Comfortable working in fast-paced, changing environments
• Influential without direct authority