Position Overview
The Production Planner is responsible for planning and coordinating production activities to support on-time delivery, efficient use of production capacity, and availability of required materials.
The role works closely with Operations, Purchasing, Warehouse, Quality, Technical, and other internal teams to develop and maintain production schedules, identify potential delays or material shortages, and coordinate actions to keep production on track.
This is a hands-on production planning role focused primarily on production scheduling, material requirements, capacity planning, and cross-functional coordination within a manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and maintain production schedules based on customer requirements, available capacity, material availability, and inventory levels.
- Monitor production progress and proactively identify potential risks to on-time delivery.
- Use MRP systems to determine raw material and component requirements and identify potential shortages.
- Coordinate with Purchasing and other relevant teams to address material availability issues and supplier delays.
- Analyze production capacity and recommend adjustments to schedules or priorities when necessary.
- Prepare and maintain weekly production schedules and provide relevant planning information to Operations and Warehouse teams.
- Monitor customer order requirements and ensure production priorities are aligned with requested delivery dates.
- Work closely with production team leaders to coordinate priorities and address scheduling constraints.
- Analyze delays and production issues to identify root causes and support corrective actions.
- Monitor inventory levels and material availability to support uninterrupted production.
- Coordinate with colleagues in Italy regarding new component introductions, production transitions, supplier delays, and material shortages.
- Analyze sales and demand information to identify potential changes in production requirements and support appropriate planning decisions.
Qualifications & Experience:
- Good knowledge of Excel and MRP systems (CYBERPLAN), ERP (JdE, Oracle)
- Excellent communication skills and teamwork-oriented
- Ability to analyze production requirements, identify potential risks, and develop practical solutions
- Strong attention to details
- Ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
Education and Experience:
- BA or BS degree in Supply Chain Management, Purchasing, Business Administration, or related field of study is preferred
- 3-5 years of experience in production planning, materials planning, or a related manufacturing environment.
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Kaizen principles is preferred
Soft Skills / Personal Attributes
- Proactive and results-oriented with a strong sense of ownership.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
- Excellent team player with the ability to collaborate across departments and international teams.
- Effective communicator capable of building positive working relationships with operations, purchasing, warehouse, and manufacturing teams.
- Highly organized with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Detail-oriented with a continuous improvement mindset.