Production Planner

Job Description

Job Description

Job Overview:

SAPA Transmission, a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) contractor, is seeking a Production Planner to develop and execute production schedules that support customer commitments, capacity requirements, material availability, and on-time delivery. This role works cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Program Management, and leadership to ensure production plans are achievable, risks are identified early, and operations stay on schedule.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain master production schedules aligned with customer commitments, contract milestones, forecasts, and production demand.
• Create short- and long-range production plans for manufacturing cells, assembly operations, testing, and supporting processes.
• Balance labor, equipment, tooling, materials, and capacity across multiple programs and product lines.
• Monitor production progress, work orders, sequencing, and schedule performance to improve throughput and minimize bottlenecks.
• Identify schedule risks and lead recovery efforts related to material shortages, engineering changes, capacity constraints, or production disruptions.
• Develop long-range capacity plans and support production ramp-ups, facility expansion, and future resource planning.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Logistics to ensure material availability, align supplier deliveries, monitor inventory, and maintain accurate MRP outputs.
• Support daily production meetings, build-readiness reviews, and execution reviews while communicating priorities to manufacturing teams.
• Provide production status, schedule risk assessments, forecasts, and recovery plans to Program Management and leadership.
• Maintain planning data, ERP parameters, dashboards, and reports using Microsoft Dynamics 365 or similar ERP systems.
• Use Power BI and other analytical tools to support data-driven production and capacity decisions.
• Serve as the primary planning interface between Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Program Management.
• Lead planning reviews and weekly production status meetings.
• Present capacity, delivery performance, schedule metrics, and strategic planning inputs to leadership.
• Support annual operating plan activities and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Promote accountability, data-driven decision-making, and effective production planning practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5–7+ years of experience in production planning or a related manufacturing planning role.
• Experience supporting complex manufacturing operations, preferably in an engineered-to-order or configured manufacturing environment.
• Experience in military, aerospace, automotive, heavy equipment, defense, or similar manufacturing industries preferred.
• Experience with ERP/material management systems; Microsoft Dynamics 365 preferred.
• Experience with B2Wise preferred.
• Experience with Power BI, production reporting, and data analytics preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and production scheduling tools.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and supply chain principles.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively across multiple functions and communicate with all levels of an organization.

Benefits:

• Paid Holiday, Time Off (PTO), and sick time.
• Medical, Rx, dental, vision and life insurance benefits with minimal employee contribution
• Short and long-term disability.
• 6% retirement plan contribution by SAPA Transmission (regardless of employee contribution to 401k plan)