Production Planner

Production Planner

This role focuses on forecasting, planning, and scheduling production within a manufacturing environment to ensure customer needs are met in a timely and efficient manner. The Production Planner manages inventory, demand planning, purchasing, and schedule execution on the shop floor while optimizing the flow of externally procured materials into the factory. The position requires effective use of planning systems and tools to balance supply and demand, maintain optimal inventory levels, and support continuous process improvement in materials and production planning activities.

Responsibilities

• Forecast, plan, and schedule assigned products within a manufacturing environment to meet customer requirements in the most timely and efficient manner.
• Gain ownership of the role by managing inventory, demand planning, purchasing activities, and schedule execution on the shop floor.
• Plan and execute the flow of externally procured materials from suppliers into the factory for assigned products to ensure inventory optimization and consistent material flow.
• Plan all purchased and manufactured parts using the most appropriate ordering approaches, including EOQ, min/max, fixed days, Kanban, and MRP.
• Ensure accurate planning parameters are established and maintained in planning systems such as GAINS and Oracle.
• Schedule manufacturing orders and monitor progress to ensure customer requirements and delivery commitments are consistently met.
• Provide work direction and prioritize production schedules on the shop floor to support efficient operations and on-time delivery.
• Manage all inventory within assigned areas to ensure cell objectives are achieved and aligned with overall company inventory and service goals.
• Proactively communicate supply shortages, delivery changes, and quality issues to relevant stakeholders in a timely manner to minimize impact on production and customers.
• Utilize the MRP system to create buying plans, regulate safety stock levels, and recommend expedites or de-expedites to balance demand fulfillment with optimal inventory levels.
• Ensure the GAINS system is accurately maintained and analyze all system exceptions to drive appropriate planning decisions.
• Use GAINS to create, adjust, and maintain product and component forecasts that drive the Oracle planning system while analyzing supply and demand imbalances.
• Define, drive, and implement process and system improvements related to materials activities to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
• Provide timely and accurate planning data and results to streamline processes and support continuous improvement in production and materials management.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and planning or related experience in a manufacturing or distribution environment.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize ERP systems efficiently and effectively for production planning and materials management.
• Strong Microsoft Excel experience, including handling and analyzing large data sets for planning and reporting.
• Experience planning products with multi-level bills of materials (BOMs).
• Knowledge of supply chain concepts, including demand planning, procurement, and inventory management.
• Understanding of lean manufacturing concepts, practices, and procedures.
• Hands-on experience with production planning, production scheduling, and production control in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience using MRP for creating buying plans, managing safety stock, and aligning supply with demand.
• Ability to manage inventory effectively to meet operational and customer service objectives.
• Capability to prioritize and direct work on the shop floor to support production schedules and customer commitments.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working with GAINS and Oracle or similar planning and ERP systems.
• Familiarity with ordering approaches such as EOQ, min/max, fixed days, Kanban, and other replenishment strategies.
• Background in a manufacturing or distribution environment with exposure to end-to-end supply chain processes.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret planning exceptions and take appropriate corrective actions.
• Ability to identify, propose, and implement process and systems improvements in materials and production planning.
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with suppliers, production teams, and internal stakeholders regarding supply, demand, and quality issues.

Work Environment

The role operates within a manufacturing environment that relies on ERP and MRP systems, including tools such as GAINS and Oracle, to manage production planning and materials flow. The Production Planner works closely with shop floor operations, coordinating schedules and providing direction to ensure smooth production activities. The position involves regular use of Microsoft Excel and other planning tools to analyze data and maintain accurate forecasts and inventory records. The work environment emphasizes lean manufacturing principles, inventory optimization, and continuous improvement of planning and materials processes.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Dayton, MN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $45.00/hr. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Dayton, MN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 30, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.