Production Planner

Production Planner

Production Planner Position Overview The Production Planner is responsible for developing and maintaining production schedules that meet customer demand while optimizing capacity and inventory. This role coordinates across procurement, manufacturing, quality and logistics to ensure materials and resources are available, production runs smoothly, and delivery commitments are met. The Production Planner uses forecasting, MRP/ERP tools and continuous improvement techniques to minimize lead times, reduce costs and support operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain and communicate the master production schedule to meet customer delivery targets and minimize stockouts.
• Perform material requirements planning (MRP) and coordinate with procurement to ensure timely availability of components and raw materials.
• Collaborate with production supervisors to evaluate capacity, prioritize orders and adjust schedules based on real-time shop-floor conditions.
• Monitor production progress and work orders; identify and resolve bottlenecks or delays to maintain on-time delivery.
• Maintain accurate planning data in ERP/MRP systems, including bills of materials, routings and inventory records.
• Analyze demand forecasts, sales orders and historical data to drive planning decisions and update schedules accordingly.
• Manage inventory levels to balance service levels and carrying costs; recommend actions to optimize safety stock and reorder points.
• Prepare and present planning performance metrics (OTD, schedule adherence, inventory turns) and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate with quality, engineering and logistics teams to handle production issues, changeovers and new product introductions.
• Support production planning for special projects, promotions and seasonal demand spikes; document and communicate changes to stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Business or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of experience in production planning, manufacturing planning or a related role within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience with MRP/ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Dynamics) and strong Excel skills for analysis and reporting.
• Solid understanding of manufacturing processes, capacity planning, scheduling and inventory control.
• Strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively across production, procurement, quality and sales teams.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles, continuous improvement methodologies (Kaizen, Six Sigma) is a plus.
• Ability to work under pressure, adapt to changing priorities and make data-driven decisions.
• Keywords/skills: Planner, Manufacturing, Production.