Buyer Planner

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Buyer Planner Job Description

This Buyer Planner role focuses on supporting manufacturing operations through effective production planning, materials management, and capacity scheduling. You will create and manage shop orders, align production schedules with customer demand, and ensure that materials, resources, and outsourced services are available to meet on-time delivery goals. The position offers the opportunity to work closely with operations, engineering, purchasing, and supply chain teams while contributing directly to production efficiency, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Create, release, and schedule shop orders to support customer demand and manufacturing requirements.
• Develop and maintain production schedules that balance customer demand with available manufacturing capacity across multiple work centers.
• Manage work center loading and capacity planning activities to ensure efficient production flow and optimal utilization of resources.
• Monitor production schedules on an ongoing basis and communicate capacity constraints and risks to leadership and key stakeholders.
• Coordinate internal manufacturing activities to achieve on-time delivery objectives and maintain smooth workflow through machining and related operations.
• Identify production bottlenecks, analyze root causes, and implement scheduling solutions to improve throughput and reduce delays.
• Manage outsourced processing activities by coordinating vendor schedules, lead times, and delivery commitments.
• Procure raw materials required for production operations and ensure materials are available in alignment with production plans.
• Maintain and update production capacity reports, planning dashboards, and key operational metrics to support decision-making.
• Participate actively in daily and weekly production meetings to review schedules, priorities, and constraints.
• Monitor expedite requests, material shortages, and production priorities, and adjust schedules or procurement plans as needed.
• Analyze inventory levels and planning requirements to support manufacturing objectives and maintain appropriate stock levels.
• Generate and maintain performance reports, including production schedules, capacity utilization, and on-time delivery metrics.
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing, purchasing, operations, and inventory teams to support continuous improvement initiatives in planning and execution.
• Use ERP systems to create and manage shop orders, run production and inventory reports, manage capacity planning tools, and track manufacturing progress and material availability.
• Analyze production demand versus available capacity, identify overload conditions, and recommend solutions to improve throughput.
• Apply knowledge of machining environments, metal cutting processes, and turning and milling operations to ensure realistic and effective production plans.
• Purchase raw materials, maintain inventory levels, monitor supply requirements, and coordinate with suppliers and outside processors.
• Monitor inventory levels, analyze shortages and excess inventory, support planning orders, and review oversupply reports to optimize stock.
• Build production reports, track key performance indicators, analyze manufacturing data, and manage dashboards and metrics using advanced Excel and reporting tools.

• 3+ years of experience in production planning, scheduling, materials planning, or manufacturing operations.
• Experience working within an ERP system, with the ability to create and manage shop orders, run production and inventory reports, and manage capacity planning tools.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, machining operations, metal cutting processes, and production workflows, including turning and milling operations.
• Proficiency in production planning and scheduling, including creating shop orders, developing production schedules, and balancing priorities across multiple work centers.
• Demonstrated experience in capacity planning, including analyzing production demand versus available capacity and identifying overload conditions.
• Hands-on experience in material planning and procurement, including purchasing raw materials, maintaining inventory levels, and coordinating suppliers and outside processors.
• Solid background in inventory management, including monitoring inventory levels, analyzing shortages and excess inventory, and reviewing oversupply reports.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with the ability to build production reports, track KPIs, analyze manufacturing data, and manage dashboards and metrics.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities applied to production planning and operations.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work cross-functionally with manufacturing, purchasing, operations, and inventory teams.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
• Experience using ERP systems such as IFS, SAP, Oracle, Epicor, JD Edwards, Plex, Infor, Microsoft Dynamics, QAD, or NetSuite.
• Experience in metal fabrication, machining, or industrial manufacturing environments.
• Experience with capacity planning and production scheduling software.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement concepts.
• APICS/CPIM certification is a plus.
• Experience with purchasing, procurement, and supplier coordination in a manufacturing context.
• Familiarity with demand forecasting and inventory management techniques.
• Exposure to continuous improvement tools and methodologies, including the use of reporting and analytics platforms such as Power BI.

This role operates in a fast-paced manufacturing environment that emphasizes collaboration between operations, engineering, supply chain, purchasing, and inventory teams. You will work extensively with ERP systems, including platforms such as IFS, SAP, Oracle, Epicor, JD Edwards, Plex, Infor, Microsoft Dynamics, QAD, or NetSuite, to manage shop orders, capacity planning, and production reporting. The position involves regular participation in daily and weekly production meetings, frequent interaction with machining and metalworking operations, and coordination with external suppliers and outside processors. The environment values continuous improvement, data-driven decision-making, and cross-functional communication, offering exposure to manufacturing planning, procurement, inventory management, and operational excellence initiatives.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of North Canton, OH.

The pay range for this position is $33.06 - $48.08/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 North Canton,OH.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 20, 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.