Production Planner- Torrance, CA

Production Planner
Location: Torrance, CA
Who we are:
We are Prime Matter Labs, a personal care product manufacturer with over 40 years of experience formulating, compounding, and filling products for some of the most successful and respected brands in the world.
 
We have embarked in pursuit of a bold new vision to be the leading product development and production partner in the country for emerging and established brands. To realize that vision, we’re investing in new technology, processes, plans, and people that will completely rethink the way that brands view and interact with their manufacturer. We’re building the platform that will allow us to serve as the foundation of our customer’s branded products, from their first sample to their million-unit product run, and every step in between.

Come help us build the future of the personal care and beauty landscape, one partnership at a time.
What we’re looking for:
We’re searching for a proactive, technically skilled Production Planner with a strong analytical mindset and a commitment to operational efficiency. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced contract manufacturing environment, has hands-on experience scheduling production lines and managing capacity in a personal care or consumer products manufacturing setting, and excels at aligning planning horizons to drive reliable execution. Our new Production Planner will keep production moving efficiently from order receipt through finished good shipment while serving as a key liaison across manufacturing, quality, purchasing, supply chain, and customer service.
How you’ll fit in:
As a member of our Operations team at the Torrance site, you will be the central hub connecting purchasing, warehouse, quality, and manufacturing. You will partner closely with production supervisors, the quality lab, warehouse staff, and supply chain team members to align the longer-term planning horizon to the short-term schedule and ensure every compounding vessel and packaging line is utilized to its fullest potential. You will work within an experienced operations team that is invested in your growth and success.
What you’ll do:
Production Scheduling & Execution

• Assist in maintaining a daily and weekly production schedule for finished goods, WIPs, bulk compounding, and packaging lines under the guidance of supply chain and operations leadership. Own and manage the rolling 0-to-4-week production schedule, ensuring near-term orders are sequenced, resourced, and communicated to the floor; flag conflicts or capacity gaps within that window and work with the Supply and Forecast Analyst to resolve them before they impact committed ship dates.
• Help sequence production orders to minimize changeovers and group similar products to limit line downtime and improve efficiency.
• Participate in daily production meetings; help track and communicate schedule changes and priorities to manufacturing and support teams.
• Flag scheduling gaps or capacity conflicts to the Supply and Forecast Analyst and assist in drafting proposals to level load lines and vessels.

Materials & Inventory Follow-Up

• Confirm that raw materials, ingredients, and packaging supplies are available ahead of scheduled production runs; follow up with the warehouse on inbound receipts.
• Communicate potential material shortages or incoming delays to the planning and purchasing teams so production is not disrupted.
• Follow up with the quality lab on testing status for incoming materials and in-process samples; escalate delays that could impact the schedule.
• Help monitor inventory levels for ingredients, packaging, and finished goods to support accurate planning and minimize excess and obsolete stock.

Reporting & Data Maintenance

• Record and track daily production actuals against the schedule; prepare routine status reports for production leadership.
• Help maintain master data in ERP/MRP systems (vessel assignments, batch sizes, line assignments, lead times) and flag data quality issues to the planning team.
• Support continuous improvement efforts related to scheduling accuracy, data integrity, and production flow; embrace the Safety, Quality, and Environmental missions of the site.

Order Processing & Customer Coordination

• Determine appropriate batch sizes for each incoming order by referencing available compounding vessel sizes; ensure planned production quantities are practical multiples of vessel capacity to maximize efficiency and minimize waste.
• Review incoming customer purchase orders to verify that order quantities and unit prices align with quoted pricing and minimum order quantities (MOQs); flag any discrepancies to customer service or the appropriate Business Development lead before acknowledging or processing the order.
• Validate that customer-requested delivery dates on incoming POs are achievable given current raw material lead times; identify at-risk orders early and communicate conflicts to the purchasing and customer service teams so alternatives or revised commit dates can be established promptly.
• Cross-reference PO line item descriptions against the correct finished goods item codes, bulk codes, and approved recipes in the ERP system to confirm each order is linked to the right formula and packaging configuration before production is released.
• For new or non-standard items where recipes, item codes, or bulk formulas are not yet established in the system, place the order on hold and escalate promptly to operations leadership or the assigned Business Development lead to ensure all required documentation and approvals are in place before scheduling.
• Enter work instructions onto production orders where necessary, working in consultation with the operations and science teams to ensure instructions are accurate, complete, and reflect current approved methods before orders are released to the floor.
• Issue cut orders tied to material availability when full order quantities cannot be fulfilled; confirm with customer service that the customer is aligned on partial shipment quantities and revised delivery expectations before processing the cut, in order to expedite what can ship and minimize delays.
• All other duties as assigned.

What you have:

• Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Business, or a related field preferred; relevant coursework or internship experience considered in lieu of a degree.
• 2–4 years of experience in production planning, scheduling, supply chain coordination, or a related manufacturing operations role; internship or co-op experience in a manufacturing environment is a plus.
• Basic understanding of manufacturing or production operations; exposure to personal care, consumer packaged goods, or batch manufacturing environments is a plus but not required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, basic data organization); willingness to learn ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, DOSS, Mar-Kov or similar platform or prior experience is a plus but not required.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; comfortable managing multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills with the ability to follow up effectively across departments.
• Eagerness to learn, a team-first attitude, and a genuine interest in supply chain, operations, or manufacturing as a career path.
• Ability to work for prolonged periods while sitting and working on a computer.
• Ability to occasionally stand, walk, and move throughout production and warehouse areas; occasionally lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work in both office and cGMP environments while following required safety procedures and PPE requirements when entering production areas.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

What we’re offering:

• Competitive compensation package
• Health, dental, and vision benefits
• 401K program with matching contributions
• The spirit of a startup with the security of an established, profitable industry leader.

Salary Range: $25-32/hr

At Prime, we believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace makes us a more relevant, more competitive, and more resilient company. We welcome people from all backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and experiences. Prime is an equal opportunity employer.