Production Planner

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Production Planner
Job Description

The Production Planner plays a key role in aligning manufacturing operations with customer demand through effective production scheduling, material planning, and inventory management. This role uses SAP and advanced Excel reporting to plan, analyze, and optimize production activities, while collaborating closely with purchasing, logistics, customer service, and operations teams. The position is ideal for a detail-oriented, analytical professional with 3–7+ years of planning experience who enjoys solving complex supply chain challenges in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Create, maintain, and optimize production schedules to support customer demand and service level targets.
• Utilize SAP to manage production orders, review material availability, and ensure timely release of work orders to the shop floor.
• Coordinate daily with purchasing, production, logistics, and customer service teams to align supply, capacity, and customer requirements.
• Monitor inventory levels for raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods, and adjust production schedules to minimize stockouts and excess inventory.
• Analyze capacity constraints across equipment and labor, and recommend planning solutions to improve throughput and schedule adherence.
• Use MRP and material planning tools to ensure adequate supply of components and materials for scheduled production.
• Develop and maintain Excel-based reports and analyses to track schedules, inventory, and key planning metrics.
• Participate in cross-functional supply chain activities such as S&OP meetings, demand reviews, and planning discussions when needed.
• Identify and propose process improvements in planning, scheduling, and inventory management to enhance efficiency and reduce waste.
• Support rapid resolution of supply chain disruptions by re-planning schedules, reallocating materials, and communicating changes to stakeholders.
• Collaborate with operations and procurement teams to understand manufacturing constraints, lead times, and material availability.
• Contribute to capacity planning and demand forecasting activities, especially for complex or high-volume product lines.
• Apply lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles to production planning processes where appropriate.
• Ensure data accuracy in SAP and planning tools, including bills of material, routings, lead times, and inventory parameters.
• Meet performance expectations by learning facility operations and planning cycles within 30 days, independently managing assigned product lines and identifying improvements within 60 days, and fully owning production planning responsibilities and improving schedule attainment within 90 days.

• 3–7+ years of experience in Production Planning, Supply Chain Planning, Manufacturing Planning, Materials Planning, or Scheduling.
• Hands-on SAP Production Planning experience, including managing production orders and material availability.
• Proven experience in manufacturing production scheduling in a plant or industrial environment.
• Strong MRP and material planning skills to ensure timely availability of components and raw materials.
• Solid inventory management experience, including monitoring levels and adjusting plans to balance service and cost.
• Advanced Excel skills for reporting, data analysis, and building planning tools or dashboards.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities and manage several product lines or schedules simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, processes, and capacity constraints.
• Excellent communication skills to work effectively with operations, procurement, logistics, and customer service teams.
• Analytical and detail-oriented approach to data, schedules, and inventory parameters.
• Proven problem-solving skills with the ability to respond quickly to supply chain disruptions.
• Demonstrated sense of urgency and ownership in resolving issues and meeting customer demand.
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally and build strong working relationships with production and supply chain teams.

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
• Professional certifications preferred such as APICS CPIM or CSCP.
• Experience in manufacturing industries such as chemical manufacturing, plastics, industrial manufacturing, or process manufacturing.
• Exposure to S&OP processes and participation in cross-functional demand and supply planning meetings.
• Experience with capacity planning and demand forecasting activities.
• Background in chemical or process manufacturing environments is a plus.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience with SAP S/4HANA is a plus.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including strong skills in Excel and familiarity with Power BI as a nice-to-have.
• Experience with supply chain analytics, including using data to drive planning and inventory decisions.
• Exposure to procurement processes and collaboration with purchasing teams.

This role operates in a manufacturing environment with on-site responsibilities, supporting production planning for plant operations. The position typically follows a Monday–Friday schedule during standard business hours. The Production Planner works closely with production, supply chain, logistics, and customer service teams in a fast-paced setting that requires responsiveness and a strong sense of urgency. Daily work involves extensive use of SAP for production and material planning, Microsoft Office (particularly advanced Excel) for reporting and analysis, and potentially Power BI for data visualization. The environment emphasizes collaboration, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision-making, with opportunities to participate in broader supply chain and S&OP activities.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Toledo, OH.

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)

This is a fully onsite position in Toledo,OH.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 15, 2026.

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award 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 ziprecruiter.com 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.