Willimantic Production Planner/Scheduler

About the role

The Production Planner/Scheduler plays a key part in developing balanced production schedules, optimizing inventory, and implementing lean strategies such as Kaizen, kanban, JIT, and continuous improvement initiatives. Working closely with operations, supply chain, and cross-functional teams, the role helps ensure on-time delivery, improved cycle times, accurate forecasting, and strong material management.

Responsibilities

• Support Supply Chain manager in all master scheduling, forecasting and procurement functions
• Perform daily planning, scheduling, and purchasing across multiple value streams to optimize output with reduced changeovers and waste
• Cook up manufacturing activities to develop a balanced schedule, fully utilizing essential lean tools, such as kanban, heijunka and kaizen
• Develop and implement lean strategies to improve operation, quality, cost, and inventory control, using tools such as pull systems, JIT, cellularization, set-up reductions
• Participate, coach, and lead continuous improvement efforts
• Support material procurement and working capital goals using lean tools
• Cook up manufacturing data systems to provide information for budgeting, capacity, and planning processes
• Forecast, plan, measure and control inventory mix/level requirements, subcomponents, and products in all stages of production
• Develop and maintain capacity reports/schedules for the assigned departments and cells that include all resource considerations
• Prepare performance reports on key performance indicators such as schedule accuracy, material turns, working capital and on time delivery
• Perform other tasks as needed in support of achieving the highest level of customer satisfaction at an optimum cost

Requirements

• A self-driven individual looking for opportunities for advancement
• Results-driven to deliver consistent improvement in cycle times, on time delivery and inventory turns
• Solid logic/reasoning skills which can influence and persuade different functional groups within the organization
• Strong verbal and written communication skills (grammar, spelling, typing, listening)

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in Manufacturing, Purchasing and/or Planning required
• Supervisory or managerial experience preferred
• Bachelor’s degree required, preferred in Supply Chain Management or Business
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, etc.) is required
• Familiarity with enterprise systems and databases, SAP preferred