Production Planner

Essential Responsibilities and Duties

• Own and maintain the Master Production Schedule (MPS), determining production sequencing and order release timing, to support efficient utilization of plant capacity while meeting customer delivery commitments.
• Determine backlog recovery priorities, tracking clear-to-build (CTB) status and establishing action plans to resolve past-due orders.
• Perform capacity planning across key work centers to identify bottlenecks and determine level-loading of shop floor schedules.
• Evaluate Engineering Change Notices (ECNs) for inventory and schedule impact, recommending ERP effectivity dates and determining phase-in/phase-out cut-over timing.
• Establish and maintain accuracy of MRP data, including lead times, yields, routings, and Bills of Materials (BOMs).
• Maintain MRP integrity by monitoring short-part lists and partnering with Purchasing and Logistics to determine resolution paths for supply line disruptions.
• Monitor and partner with Purchasing to set safety stock, reorder points, and min-max parameters, balancing inventory carrying cost against stockout and line-down risk.
• Communicate with Sales, Customer Service, Procurement, and Shop Floor Leadership to serve as an operational point of contact.
• Support Sales with customer quote requests by analyzing capacity and material lead times to determine and provide Available-to-Promise (ATP) delivery dates.
• Communicate schedule risks and constraints to internal teams and leadership as needed.
• Maintain open, two-way communication with the Production Manager on production schedule changes, ensuring any adjustments are reflected in the schedule and MRP data.
• Participate in daily/weekly production control meetings.
• Participate in continuous improvement projects.
• Accountable for on-time delivery, schedule adherence, and past-due backlog reduction for the facility.

Minimum Qualifications

• A high school diploma or GED;
• An associate or bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or a related field preferred;
• 5+ years of experience in scheduling, production planning, or materials coordination within a manufacturing environment;
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems (Epicor preferred);
• Strong Excel skills for calculations, tracking, and reporting;
• Ability to read and interpret BOMs, routings, and work instructions;
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in hydraulic, fluid power, or industrial manufacturing;
• Familiarity with ECN processes and ERP effectivity date management;
• APICS/CPIM or similar supply chain/production planning certification.