Production Planner

Job Description

Job Description

Company Overview

Spike Electric Controls is a switchgear manufacturer supporting complex power distribution projects. The Production Control organization converts customer commitments, engineering releases, material availability, vendor performance, and shop capacity into executable plans that support predictable delivery, controlled material flow, and reliable production readiness.

Position Summary

The Production Planner is responsible for translating the company master schedule into detailed, executable plans for Fabrication, Procurement, and Outsourced Operations. This role turns high-level schedule requirements into clear priorities, work packages, material readiness plans, and department-level execution plans that support on-time production and project delivery.

The Production Planner works closely with the Master Scheduling function, PMO, Production Control Manager, Fabrication, Procurement, Engineering, Quality, outside vendors, and project stakeholders to anticipate constraints, resolve shortages, coordinate priorities, and ensure that work is released to Production only when it is ready to execute.

Why This Role Matters

This role is a critical control point between the company schedule and the shop floor. The Planner protects schedule integrity by ensuring that work is properly planned, sequenced, resourced, and authorized before it reaches Production. Nothing is issued to Production without Planner sign-off.

Key Responsibilities

Schedule Translation and Execution Planning

· Break down the master schedule into smaller, executable plans for Fabrication, Procurement, and Outsourced Operations.

· Develop clear daily, weekly, and project-level priorities that are usable by departments and execution teams.

· Sequence work based on schedule requirements, department capacity, material availability, engineering readiness, and downstream assembly needs.

· Ensure work packages are complete, accurate, and ready before release to Production.

· Maintain visibility to what is coming to fabrication and production, what is currently in process, and what is moving toward final assembly.

Procurement and Outsource Planning

· Plan and monitor all purchased commercial material, raw materials, and outsourced work required to support assigned projects.

· Coordinate with Buyers, Procurement, and vendors to validate material status and schedule impact; Buyers place purchase orders, while Planners verify status, check alignment to schedule, and escalate or expedite as needed.

· Coordinate outsourced fabrication, welding, painting, bending, and other vendor-performed operations that augment internal capabilities.

· Identify vendor-related risks early and communicate recovery needs to the appropriate stakeholders.

Material Readiness and Production Release

· Confirm that material, drawings, travelers, BOMs, routing, and required documentation are ready before releasing work to Production.

· Coordinate with Material Coordinators to ensure execution plans are understood and actionable.

· Authorize material delivery to Production for final assembly when project requirements and readiness checks are satisfied.

· Protect the rule that nothing is issued to Production without Planner sign-off.

Shortage, Rework, and Returned Material Control

· Identify, track, and drive resolution of shortages, incorrect material, damaged material, rework parts, and replacement needs.

· Work with Engineering, Procurement, Quality, Material Coordinators, and Expeditors to resolve issues that threaten schedule execution.

· Coordinate the removal, disposition, and system accuracy of returned or excess material after job completion and shipment.

Communication, Reporting, and Schedule Feedback

· Provide accurate and timely status updates to the Master Scheduling function and Project Managers.

· Identify schedule variances, material risks, and execution constraints; recommend recovery actions where needed.

· Participate in production, engineering, procurement, and capacity planning meetings as required.

· Maintain accurate data in ERP/MRP, planning tools, trackers, and other company systems.

Continuous Improvement

· Support the development of standard work packages, planning templates, and repeatable planning processes.

· Use ERP/MRP tools to improve material visibility, demand alignment, and planning accuracy.

· Participate in continuous improvement efforts related to flow, schedule adherence, material readiness, and cross-functional execution.

Required Qualifications

· 2+ years of experience in production planning, production control, scheduling, material planning, or a related manufacturing role.

· Experience working in a manufacturing, fabrication, engineered-to-order, project-based, or industrial production environment.

· Working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems, production schedules, BOMs, routers, travelers, and material status tracking.

· Ability to coordinate across Production, Procurement, Engineering, Quality, vendors, and project stakeholders.

· Strong organizational skills, follow-up discipline, and ability to manage competing priorities across multiple projects.

· Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and common business systems.

Preferred Qualifications

· Experience in switchgear, electrical equipment, metal fabrication, panel manufacturing, or related industrial manufacturing.

· Experience coordinating outsourced fabrication, coating, welding, bending, machining, or vendor-performed production activities.

· Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, visual management, or production flow improvement methods.

· Experience supporting high-mix, low-to-medium volume, engineered-to-order production environments.

Key Competencies

· Proactive planning mindset and strong sense of ownership.

· Ability to influence without direct authority.

· High sense of urgency paired with disciplined decision-making.

· Strong conflict resolution skills across cross-functional teams.

· Ability to translate complex schedules into clear execution priorities.

· Detail-oriented, data-driven, and comfortable holding others accountable to process.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

· Onsite role supporting both office and manufacturing-floor environments.

· Regular walking of production, fabrication, and material staging areas may be required.

· Must be able to operate effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with shifting priorities.

Success Measures

· Accurate and executable department-level plans.

· Improved material readiness and fewer production disruptions.

· Timely visibility to shortages, risks, and recovery plans.

· Strong alignment between planning, material control, production, and project needs.

· Consistent enforcement of Planner sign-off before Production release.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Disclaimer

Spike Electric Controls is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Responsibilities may evolve based on business needs.