Senior Planner

Senior Production Planner

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated provides enabling technologies for industrial growth markets that require advanced technology and high reliability. These markets include aerospace and defense, factory automation, air and water quality environmental monitoring, electronics design and development, oceanographic research, deepwater oil and gas exploration and production, medical imaging and pharmaceutical research.

We are looking for individuals who thrive on making an impact and want the excitement of being on a team that wins.

Job Description

General Overview

The Senior Production Planner is responsible for translating the company's strategic business plan into executable production, material, inventory, and capacity plans across assigned product families. This role develops aggregate supply and demand plans, aligns manufacturing capacity with forecasted demand, and drives inventory optimization strategies that support customer commitments, operational efficiency, working capital objectives, and business growth.

The Senior Planner serves as the primary link between Sales, Operations, Engineering, Program Management, Procurement, and Manufacturing to ensure product availability while maintaining balanced capacity utilization and inventory investment. This position leads master scheduling activities, material planning strategies, capacity analysis, inventory policy development, and continuous improvement initiatives that support enterprise supply chain objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Business Planning & Sales, Inventory and Operations Planning (S&OP)

• Translate annual business objectives, sales forecasts, and customer demand projections into actionable production and material plans.
• Participate in S&OP and Integrated Business Planning (IBP) processes by providing capacity, inventory, and supply recommendations.
• Develop aggregate production plans for assigned product families that support revenue, margin, inventory, and customer delivery objectives.
• Evaluate demand fluctuations and recommend strategies to balance resources, inventory investments, and customer requirements.
• Identify business risks and capacity constraints early and provide mitigation plans.

Capacity Planning & Level Loading

• Analyze manufacturing capacity, labor availability, equipment utilization, and supplier capabilities to support forecasted demand.
• Develop capacity models and resource plans for assigned product lines.
• Lead level-loading initiatives to optimize manufacturing flow, reduce schedule volatility, and improve resource utilization.
• Partner with Operations to identify bottlenecks and implement corrective actions.
• Recommend production balancing strategies that maximize throughput while minimizing overtime, expediting, and excess inventory.

Master Scheduling

• Develop and maintain Master Production Schedules (MPS) for assigned product families.
• Convert aggregate business requirements into detailed production schedules.
• Establish achievable schedules that align demand, inventory targets, supplier lead times, and manufacturing capacity.
• Monitor schedule adherence and drive corrective actions when deviations occur.
• Manage planning horizons to ensure visibility for Procurement, Manufacturing, and Program Management teams.

Material Planning & Analysis

• Analyze MRP outputs and planning requirements to ensure material availability for production schedules.
• Monitor inventory levels, demand changes, and supply performance to prevent shortages and excess inventory.
• Review material requirements against forecast, backlog, and production plans.
• Develop and implement inventory replenishment strategies that support customer service objectives and working capital targets.
• Drive material readiness reviews for critical programs and new product introductions.

Inventory Optimization & Supply Chain Strategy

• Establish and maintain planning parameters including:
• Safety Stock Levels
• Reorder Points
• Lead Time Settings
• Order Policies
• Min-Max Levels
• Lot Sizing Rules
• Kanban Replenishment Parameters
• Conduct inventory analysis to optimize inventory investment while protecting service levels.
• Continuously evaluate inventory turns, excess and obsolete inventory, and strategic buffer requirements.
• Recommend stocking strategies based on demand variability, supply risk, and business priorities.
• Develop inventory segmentation strategies for critical, long-lead-time, and high-risk materials.

Procurement & Supplier Planning Support

• Partner with Procurement to develop supply continuity strategies.
• Recommend materials for Safety Stock Agreements, Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), Blanket Purchase Agreements, and Kanban contracts.
• Identify components requiring long-term supply agreements based on demand stability, lead time, supply risk, and usage trends.
• Support supplier capacity reviews and risk mitigation activities.
• Develop alternate sourcing recommendations to reduce sole-source risks and improve supply resiliency.
• Provide purchasing recommendations based on forecast changes, inventory positions, and business priorities.

Kanban & Lean Manufacturing Initiatives

• Develop and manage pull-based replenishment systems for appropriate material categories.
• Determine Kanban quantities, replenishment frequencies, and trigger levels.
• Support Lean Manufacturing initiatives by reducing inventory waste and improving material flow.
• Collaborate with Operations to enhance material presentation and point-of-use replenishment strategies.

Reporting & Analytics

• Develop planning dashboards and KPI reporting for:
• On-Time Delivery
• Schedule Attainment
• Capacity Utilization
• Inventory Turns
• Forecast Accuracy
• Material Availability
• Supplier Performance
• Working Capital Metrics
• Analyze planning performance and provide recommendations to improve operational efficiency.
• Generate scenario analyses to support business decisions and capacity planning activities.
• Maintain planning data integrity within ERP/MRP systems.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities but may provide technical leadership to lower-level buyers and/or planners, including carrying out lead responsibilities in accordance with applicable regulations and laws and the organization's policies and procedures. This includes, but is not limited to training employees, planning, assigning, directing work and resolving technically related work problems.

Qualifications/Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
• APICS/ASCM CPIM, CSCP, ISM, Lean Manufacturing, or other relevant professional certifications preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in production planning, materials planning, purchasing, supply chain, or manufacturing operations.
• Experience in a regulated manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, or high-mix/low-volume production environment preferred.

Other Qualifications:

• Strong understanding of production planning, scheduling, inventory management, procurement, and supply chain fundamentals.
• Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems to support planning and procurement activities.
• Knowledge of Kanban systems, lean manufacturing principles, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong experience managing complex product families within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with S&OP, Master Scheduling, Capacity Planning, and Inventory Optimization.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to interpret complex data and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively across functional teams.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing processes, production documentation, bills of material, and engineering drawings.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience supporting NPI programs and engineering change implementations is preferred.

Salary Range:

$77,900.00-$103