Production Planner

Production Planner

The Production Planner translates customer demand into clear, executable production plans that align order intake, manufacturing capacity, and delivery commitments. This role operates in a high-mix, build-to-order environment and works closely with production leaders and customer support teams to manage schedules, optimize line utilization, and ensure on-time delivery of equipment units.

Responsibilities

• Convert customer demand and system-generated MRP outputs from overnight runs into actionable production plans and planned orders.
• Schedule and sequence production activities across multiple production lines in a high-mix, build-to-order environment.
• Balance workload across lines based on capacity, order type, and priority to maximize efficiency and throughput.
• Collaborate closely with production team leaders to execute schedules and resolve capacity or material constraints in real time.
• Manage a high volume of weekly customer orders, typically ranging from 100 to 200 individual equipment units.
• Prioritize and distribute orders appropriately across the production schedule to meet customer delivery requirements.
• Track and report schedule adherence on a daily basis, identifying and documenting root causes for deviations from plan.
• Maintain and update production metrics, including lead times by production line, throughput, and build rates.
• Support achievement of targeted build-to-ship cycles of approximately 810 days by proactively managing production plans.
• Contribute to the optimization of line utilization and continuous improvement of production planning processes.
• Support and participate in activities related to ERP and SAP S/4HANA usage and improvement within the production planning function.

Essential Skills

• 23 years of production planning experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on experience with SAP, specifically SAP S/4HANA, in a production planning or supply chain context.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and the ability to work with MRP outputs to create detailed production plans.
• Experience in automotive manufacturing or machine building, particularly in a build-to-order environment.
• Strong ability to manage high-volume, fast-paced production schedules involving 100200 equipment units per week.
• Bachelor's degree, preferably in Supply Chain Management or a related field.
• Ability to balance workload across multiple production lines based on capacity and priority.
• Capability to track, analyze, and report production metrics such as lead times, throughput, and build rates.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills for working with production leaders and customer support teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills to identify root causes of schedule deviations and implement corrective actions.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Supply chain degree is highly preferred and supports advanced planning and optimization activities.
• Experience in automotive or machine build industries with build-to-order processes is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with high-mix manufacturing environments and complex order sequencing.
• Comfort with supporting and contributing to new SAP implementation initiatives.
• Ability to work flexibly while maintaining accountability for meeting production and delivery commitments.

Work Environment

This position is based in an office environment closely connected to production operations. The typical work schedule starts before 8:00 a.m., with workdays of approximately 910 hours from Monday through Thursday. Friday is a shorter day, generally ending between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., with production activities concluding around 1:00 p.m. The role involves regular interaction with production lines, use of ERP systems including SAP S/4HANA, and engagement in a fast-paced setting where high volumes of build-to-order equipment are planned and monitored. The environment supports flexibility when needed, provided responsibilities and production commitments are consistently met.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Holland, MI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $33.00 - $41.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Holland, MI.