Production Planning Coordinator

Join Our Team at voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak!

Embark on a rewarding career journey with voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak, North America's premier designer and manufacturer of special trackwork. With a legacy spanning 160 years, we lead the industry in shaping the future of rail solutions. As part of the voestalpine Railway Systems global network, we are committed to delivering quality products and services, including rails, turnouts, fastening systems, signaling technologies, and monitoring solutions. Operating with a presence across Canada, the US, and Mexico, we prioritize the well-being of our people, global mobility, and sustainability and innovation.

Our people are the foundation of our success. Skilled, motivated, and results-driven individuals shape our culture demonstrating our core values of Respect, Responsibility, Curiosity, Courage, Passion, and Diversity each day. This commitment is more than shared values; it extends to shared responsibilities for safety and quality, showing genuine care for one another's growth and development, a commitment to our customers, and fostering strong relationships within the Nortrak Team and with our customers.

We are currently looking for a Production Planning Coordinator to join our team in Decatur, Illinois.

PURPOSE OF POSITION

Reporting to the Production Planning Manager, the Production Planning Coordinator is responsible to ensure the continuous flow of all orders through the shop from planning through production and on to shipment according to customer demands and quality standards, to ensure cost-efficient flow of production operations. The role also provides day-to-day supervision of Shipping and Receiving to ensure materials and finished goods are handled, documented, stored, and transported safely, accurately, and economically.

TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES

SAFETY:

• Adhere to all safety rules and sets an example for others while working in the yard and production areas.
• Train and qualify employees on safe material-handling practices and the proper operation of forklifts, yard equipment, loading equipment, and other assigned equipment, consistent with site requirements.

QUALITY:

• Ensures accurate and timely generation of work orders.
• Oversees proper flow of required documentation through manufacturing processes.
• Closes work orders and related documents.

• Ensures BOM’s and routings are accurate.
• Support monthly cycle count program, inventory reconciliation, and corrective actions for discrepancies involving raw material, WIP, finished goods, and shipping supplies.
• Ensures accurate and timely shipment and receipts of raw materials, finished goods and WIP.
• Ensure shipments and receipts are accurate, properly labeled, and supported by required documentation, including packing lists, bills of lading, certifications, photographs, and customer-specific records as applicable.

ON-TIME DELIVERY:

• Schedule and coordinate work across multiple departments and outside processes, including X-ray, heat treatment, cleaning, subcontract operations, and other required production steps.
• Monitor actual progress against the schedule, identify constraints or bottlenecks, and coordinate priorities and recovery actions with Production, Quality, Engineering, Purchasing, Sales, and other stakeholders.
• Maintain weekly shop and product delivery schedules and communicate material shortages, capacity concerns, priority changes, and delivery risks promptly.
• Provide day-to-day oversight of inbound and outbound material flow, including raw materials, work in process, finished goods, interplant transfers, and customer shipments.
• Coordinate carrier availability, shipment timing, routing, consolidation, expediting, and required documentation to support committed delivery dates.
• Coordinate interplant requirements and participate in recurring planning meetings with sister facilities to support customer commitments.

COST:

• Coordinate carrier selection, routing, consolidation, load utilization, and expediting with strong consideration for total freight cost, delivery performance, and risk.
• Review freight quotes and shipping alternatives and select economical transportation solutions without compromising safety, quality, or customer commitments.
• Help maintain accurate standard labor, machine, outside-processing, and material cost inputs and periodically review them for needed updates.
• Ensure unusable, excess, or substituted material is properly identified, transacted, and accounted for against the appropriate work order or inventory record.
• Identify and implement improvements that reduce freight expense, unnecessary handling, delays, premium transportation, excess inventory, transaction errors, and non-value-added activity.
• Use data and practical problem-solving to improve schedule attainment, inventory accuracy, material flow, and department productivity.

PEOPLE:

• Coordinates with Planning, Production, Accounting, Engineering, Sales, and Purchasing to ensure delivery goals are realistic and up to date.
• High level organization and time management.
• Provide daily supervision and work direction to the Shipping Coordinator and Material Handlers, including assignment of priorities, workload balancing, and follow-up on completion.
• Support employee onboarding, cross-training, coaching, attendance administration, and performance feedback in coordination with the Production Planning Manager and Human Resources.
• Coordinate effectively with Planning, Production, Quality, Engineering, Purchasing, Sales, Project Management, Accounting, carriers, suppliers, subcontractors, and sister facilities.
• Develop and maintain clear planning, shipping, receiving, and inventory records that support traceability, audits, accountability, and timely decision-making.
• Communicate expectations, changing priorities, material constraints, schedule risks, and shipment requirements clearly and promptly.
• Promote teamwork, accountability, problem-solving, and continuous improvement within Shipping and Receiving and across the production-planning process.

ENVIRONMENTAL:

• Adhere to Nortrak's Environmental Procedures, Practices and Policies.

Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School graduate or GED required. Associate’s degree in supply chain, operations, business, or a related field is preferred.
• Three to five years of relevant experience in manufacturing production planning, scheduling, materials, logistics, shipping/receiving, or a closely related operations role.
• Prior experience leading or supervising employees is preferred; demonstrated ability to provide clear work direction and training is required.
• Experience using an ERP/MRP system to manage work orders, inventory, BOMs, routings, and production schedules is required. SAP experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience coordinating freight, carriers, bills of lading, shipping documentation, inventory transactions, and material-handling activities is preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Outlook, and related business systems is required; excellent Microsoft Excel skills are preferred.

PHYSCIAL DEMANDS:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer; occasional standing and walking for your scheduled shift.
• Must remain stationary for extended periods and move throughout the building to access files.
• Must work effectively in a noisy environment.
• Site inspections required to identify and address safety concerns.
• Ability to lift and move equipment or objects up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Visual requirements include close, distance, color, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Occasional travel required, involving walking, standing, sitting, and driving for varying durations.
• Frequent use of hands and arms for dialling phones and using a computer mouse.

LOCATION:

• Decatur, Illinois.

SALARY:

• 60,000/year – 70,000/year

BENEFITS:

• A supportive, family oriented Nortrak Blue culture.
• We provide an environment where Health and Safety is our #1 priority.
• Career development opportunities and competitive pay progression.
• Competitive medical, dental & vision benefits.
• Company paid life and disability insurance.
• Paid holidays and vacation.
• Retirement plan with matching contributions.
• Tuition Assistance Program.
• Wellness Program.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Employee Recognition Programs.

If you think you have the necessary qualifications and drive to excel in our team, we invite you to apply now and join us at voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak. Apply today!

voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak (“Nortrak”) is a subsidiary of voestalpine AG ( one of Europe’s premier steel producers with over 50,000 employees worldwide. Nortrak is closely affiliated with voestalpine’s Railway Systems group which operates in 21 countries across the globe to provide cutting edge system-based solutions to railroads and transits. Our website is

voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, and any other federal, state, or locally protected classifications.

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