Production Planner

The primary responsibility of the Production Planneris to make sure that each day's scheduled run of items occurs without delay.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensures that assigned production lines have all necessary materials to begin assembly prior to the start of the shift.
• Under the guidance of the Director of Operations, trains and mentors material handlers/pickers for planner’s specific product. Accountable and responsible for doing periodic checks to ensure accuracy of material brought to the lines.
• Assists with the creation of work orders for any fabrication or secondary processing of parts required, accountable for ensuring that these work orders are managed correctly and closed appropriately within the ERP system to ensure inventory accuracy.
• Advises Material Handlers of components needed by pulling information from BOM’s, pick sheets, and engineering drawings.
• Assists the Director of Operations and Production Coordinator with the scheduling of workflow orders for their respective area, ensuring the master schedule is followed and lead times are met.
• Reports any physical variance in inventory to the Director of Operations and expedites issues that delay schedules to meet unforeseen conditions.
• Works with Material Handlers to ensure no production stoppages occur due to component shortage and report any stoppages that occur on the production floor that cause a deviation from the master schedule.
• Actively participates with continuous improvement projects to improve lead times, quality, and on-time delivery.
• Meets safety and quality expectations while adhering to all OSHA and Company requirements.
• Regularly engage in cross-departmental meetings to discuss production issues, process improvements, and ensure alignment with company objectives.
• Actively participate in and lead change management initiatives within the production process to continually improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Work closely with customer service and sales teams to align production planning with customer needs and expectations, ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction.
• Incorporate environmental and sustainability considerations into production planning and decision-making processes.
• Other duties as deemed appropriate by Management and the Company.
  MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES)
  
• 3-5 years planning/scheduling experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of packaging machinery and materials is desired.
• Proficiency and discipline in using ERP/MRP is essential for this role.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and time management skills.
• Conscientious work and attention to detail.
• Experience working within ISO 13485 guidelines is a plus.
• Must be able to read and comprehend English to understand work instructions and drawings.
• Experience with Microsoft Office applications.
• Working knowledge of Supply Chain Management, a plus.
• The ability to multitask and manage changing business conditions is essential.
• Working experience in Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma environments preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work on a team, practice empathy, and build strong collaborative relationships.
• Proven capability to adapt to a changing environment and view change as an opportunity for improvement.
• Ability to listen with empathy, understand various perspectives, and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong critical thinking skills with a creative approach, particularly in dynamic and changing business conditions.
• A commitment to continuous personal and professional development.
  EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
• HS diploma/GED required, and college degree preferred.
• Minimum 2-3 years of experience in a Warehouse and/or Manufacturing environment.
  TRAVEL:
  Travel of 10% or less is projected to visit prospective and current vendors or partners in the supply chain.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.