Planner

Job Description

Job Description

Planner

Hydraulic Technologies | Rockford, IL

At Hydraulic Technologies, great planning drives everything we do. Every production schedule impacts customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, inventory performance, and business success.

We're looking for a highly motivated Planner who thrives on solving complex challenges, balancing priorities, and keeping manufacturing operations running smoothly. If you enjoy working with data, collaborating across teams, and making decisions that directly influence production performance, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact every day.

As a Planner, you'll serve as a critical link between customer demand, production capacity, material availability, and operational execution. You'll help ensure the right work is scheduled at the right time, resources are utilized effectively, and customer commitments are met.

What You'll Do

Build and Manage Production Plans

• Develop, maintain, and communicate production schedules that align customer demand, material availability, labor capacity, and operational priorities. 
• Level-load production lines and work centers to improve workflow, reduce schedule disruptions, and support consistent execution. 
• Create and maintain production orders, planned orders, and planning signals within SAP and other business systems.
• Monitor schedule performance and proactively adjust plans as customer priorities, capacity constraints, and operational conditions change. 
• Coordinate daily scheduling priorities with Operations to support on-time delivery and effective use of manufacturing resources. 

Drive Material Readiness & Inventory Performance

• Analyze demand, inventory levels, open orders, and production requirements to ensure materials are available when needed. 
• Identify shortages, supply risks, excess inventory, and constraints before they impact production or customer delivery. 
• Partner with Buyers and Operations to resolve material issues and maintain the right balance between inventory investment and availability. 
• Support inventory accuracy, replenishment processes, and planning discipline that improve schedule reliability and reduce firefighting.

Use Data to Drive Decisions

• Analyze backlog, demand, capacity, inventory, shortages, and production performance data to support informed decision-making.
• Maintain accurate planning data and scheduling parameters within ERP systems. 
• Create reports and communicate schedule status, risks, and opportunities to key stakeholders. 
• Identify trends and opportunities to improve efficiency, lead times, and overall planning performance. 

Collaborate Across the Business

• Work closely with Operations, Purchasing, Customer Service, Engineering, Quality, and Finance to align production plans with business priorities. 
• Participate in planning and production meetings to communicate priorities, resolve challenges, and drive accountability. 
• Support new product introductions, engineering changes, customer expedites, and continuous improvement initiatives.

What Success Looks Like

In this role, you'll make a measurable impact through:

• Improved schedule adherence 
• Strong on-time delivery performance 
• Increased inventory accuracy and planning reliability 
• Optimized inventory investment 
• Reduced material shortages and production disruptions 
• Fewer expedite requests 
• Improved SQDC performance (Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost)

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in production planning, scheduling, supply chain, or manufacturing operations. 
• Strong understanding of MRP, production scheduling, inventory management, capacity planning, and replenishment strategies. 
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and data-driven planning environments. 
• Strong analytical skills and advanced Excel capabilities. 
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in hydraulic, aerospace, automotive, or other high-mix manufacturing environments. 
• Experience with SAP, Power BI, and production scheduling tools. 
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Theory of Constraints (TOC), SIOP/S&OP, and inventory optimization practices.

The Traits That Will Help You Thrive

We're looking for someone who is:

• A strategic problem solver who can navigate constraints and make sound decisions. 
• Comfortable balancing competing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Detail-oriented with strong data discipline. 
• A clear communicator who follows through on commitments. 
• Driven by continuous improvement.
• Able to influence outcomes and build strong working relationships across teams.

Why You'll Love Working Here

At Hydraulic Technologies, we know our people are our greatest competitive advantage. We invest in our employees by providing meaningful work, opportunities for growth, and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you and your family.

Benefits & Perks

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Generous 401(k) Employer Match
• Company-Paid Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• Career Growth and Professional Development Opportunities
• Collaborative, Team-Oriented Culture
• Stable Manufacturing Environment with Long-Term Career Potential
• Additional Voluntary Benefits Available

Why This Role Matters

The Planner plays a critical role in connecting customer demand with manufacturing execution. Your decisions will impact production flow, inventory performance, customer satisfaction, and overall operational success. If you're looking for a position where your work is visible, valued, and impactful, we'd love to talk with you.

Hydraulic Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all employees.

Apply today and help shape the future of manufacturing at Hydraulic Technologies.