Production Planner

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Production Planner / Scheduler performs office and non-manual production-planning work that supports the management and operation of the Franklin facility. The role independently evaluates customer demand, inventory, material availability, labor, equipment, lead times, capacity, cost, and delivery risk; compares alternative courses of action; and establishes or recommends production plans that materially affect customer commitments, inventory levels, resource allocation, and plant performance.

Working under general direction, the Planner / Scheduler exercises discretion and independent judgment in setting and revising priorities, resolving competing demands, and addressing significant scheduling and capacity issues. Decisions and recommendations may be reviewed by management, but the role is expected to investigate issues, develop alternatives, and select or recommend a course of action without immediate direction. The role is not primarily limited to routine data entry, clerical expediting, issuing system-generated schedules, or mechanically applying prescribed procedures.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own and maintain the master, weekly, and daily production schedules for assigned products or value streams, consistent with customer commitments and the facility's operating objectives.
• Independently analyze customer orders and forecasts, inventory, bills of material, routings, supplier and manufacturing lead times, labor and equipment capacity, and operational risks to determine feasible production plans.
• Compare alternative production sequences and resource-allocation options and decide, within delegated authority, when to accelerate, defer, resequence, split, or consolidate work orders and how to allocate constrained capacity among competing priorities.
• When an issue exceeds delegated authority, develop and present a recommended course of action—including its service, cost, inventory, capacity, and operational consequences to Operations management for decision.
• Identify and investigate material shortages, bottlenecks, capacity constraints, and schedule exceptions before they affect customer deliveries; determine root causes and coordinate appropriate corrective actions across functions.
• Exercise judgment in balancing customer service, production efficiency, inventory investment, changeover requirements, material availability, and other business considerations rather than relying solely on system-generated recommendations.
• Advise Operations management regarding capacity requirements, production risks, inventory exposure, staffing or overtime needs, outsourcing options, and changes needed to support short- and longer-term business objectives.
• Lead or facilitate cross-functional planning discussions with Production, Purchasing, Materials, Engineering, Quality, and Customer Service; resolve conflicting priorities and communicate the resulting plan and rationale.
• Set, review, and recommend changes to ERP/MRP planning parameters, including lead times, lot sizes, safety stock, reorder points, planning horizons, and capacity assumptions, based on operating data and business needs.
• Monitor schedule attainment, past-due work orders, capacity utilization, inventory, and other planning metrics; analyze significant variances and recommend or implement process improvements.
• Develop scenario analyses and planning recommendations for demand changes, new-product introductions, supplier disruptions, equipment downtime, and other events with a material operational or customer impact.
• Support sales and operations planning, budgeting, continuous-improvement initiatives, and other projects affecting production-planning policies, systems, and operating practices.
• Maintain accurate planning information in the ERP/MRP system and spend appropriate time on the manufacturing floor to validate assumptions, understand constraints, and consult with production personnel. These activities support the role's planning and decision-making responsibilities.
• Perform other duties consistent with the position's primary production-planning, analytical, and advisory responsibilities.

Decision Making and Authority:

• Work from general business objectives and established operating parameters, with authority to make and implement production-scheduling and prioritization decisions within the scope assigned by management.
• Use independent judgment to depart from system recommendations or routine scheduling practices when operating conditions warrant, subject to applicable safety, quality, regulatory, and financial controls.
• Escalate matters outside delegated authority with an analysis of alternatives and a recommendation; management review of significant decisions does not eliminate the role's responsibility to exercise independent judgment.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Qualifications:

• Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in production planning, production scheduling, production control, materials planning, or a similar manufacturing role that required independent analysis and recommendations.
• Experience using an ERP/MRP system in a manufacturing environment and evaluating, rather than merely processing, system-generated planning information.
• Working knowledge of work orders, bills of material, routings, inventory, lead times, capacity planning, and manufacturing operations.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex or competing operational considerations, develop alternatives, make sound decisions within delegated authority, and provide recommendations to management.
• Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to manage changing priorities and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Ability and willingness to spend time on the manufacturing floor to gather information and work directly with production teams while maintaining production planning and analysis as the role's primary duty.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with IFS Cloud or another modern manufacturing ERP/MRP system.
• Experience in sheet metal fabrication, assembly, or another discrete manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of finite scheduling and manufacturing processes such as CNC fabrication, welding, assembly, or powder coating.
• APICS CPIM, CSCP, CLTD, or a similar professional certification.
• A bachelor's degree in supply chain, operations, manufacturing, business, or a related field. Relevant manufacturing experience may substitute for formal education.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

• Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt
• Location: Franklin, MA (On-Site)
• Salary Range: $80K-$85K Per Year

BENEFITS:

GCX offers a terrific compensation package that includes a healthcare and dental plan; life, long-term disability, and accidental death insurance; a 401(k) plan; paid vacation and holidays; an educational assistance program; and fitness facilities in our California and Texas locations. We understand the importance of balancing your life between work and home, which is why we offer flexible scheduling.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY:

GCX values and employs unique individuals of different ages, genders, ethnicities, physical and mental abilities, and lifestyles. We do not discriminate (or tolerate discrimination by our employees) against any applicant or employee based on age, gender, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected under law.

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