The Planner is responsible for coordinating and planning operations to meet customer requirements and orders, with a particular focus on subassembly components. This role involves developing and maintaining production schedules to ensure seamless production operations. Key responsibilities include coordinating with various departments, managing resources, and ensuring production targets are met in a timely and cost-effective manner. The Production Planner utilizes various tools and software to forecast demand, plan production activities, and monitor progress effectively.

Essential Job Responsibilities not limited to:

1. Analyze and report on inventory metrics to enhance impact on production:

• Monitor the overall situation including materials transactions, materials in inventory, labor transactions, supply chain problems, customer forecasts, customer demands and market changes to make timely and accurate reporting to improve impact on production and achieve better results
• Build and monitor the production schedule to meet customer orders and make revisions as needed based on analysis and material availability in inventory and ERP
• Use market and competitive analysis to anticipate necessary production changes and propose revisions to meet customer orders
• Analyze and measure ERP inventory and inventory on hand and ensure ERP is accurate and reflects materials available to meet and improve production goals
• Work with relevant stakeholders to ensure continuous inventory shipments to meet production requirements.
• Collaborate with the Production Manager to enhance efficiency through effective problem-solving.
• Review Methods of Manufacture (MOM) item structures ensuring consistency and accuracy

2. Supervise the Department

• Supervise department staff with respect to strategic and proactive hiring, performance management, disciplinary action, and termination of employment. Identify and provide coaching, mentoring, and training to enhance employee professional development and add value to the company.

3. Process Purchase Orders or Purchase Order Releases in ERP to procure raw material, parts, supplies, tools equipment and services to meet customer demands with respect to:

• Direct material
• Subcontract material
• Indirect material supplies or services.

4. Identify what to buy

• Analyze historical trends and sales orders to determine material requirements
• Analyze available inventory, material requirements and lead times to determine material to be ordered or released
• Review demands daily utilizing modules of the Vantage System with consideration to cost, supplier and inventory level
• Obtain quotes from subcontractor suppliers for parts or services. Summarize, justify and present supplier selection for approval
• Read and interpret engineering drawings and other documentation needed to plan/purchase material and production requirements

5. Ensure material transactions are executed properly, accurately, and timely

• Analyze and resolve Negative on Hand and Transaction History to monitor and maintain system effectiveness.
• Resolve Invoice and Receiver discrepancies to ensure proper receipt of stock
• Work with QA and Suppliers to resolve material rejections. Obtain RMAs from Suppliers and ensure material transactions are complete

6. Plan, schedule and monitor production work orders for accuracy and proper execution for:

• Job orders for contract work
• Job orders for work accomplished in other VMC departments
• Job orders submitted to subcontractors and suppliers
• Develop production plans to meet sales order and/or finished goods replacements
• Collaborate with production management to determine the resources required to meet the production plans
• Produce job orders to convert/process material within VMC operations and with suppliers
• Coordinate requirements between departments or warehouses that protect the production plan. Ensure that subassemblies produced in outside operations are delivered on time to support downstream operations

7. Monitor and maintain material item parameters in ERP

• Based on parameters provided, detail and maintain reporting on the necessary stocking levels
• Update Bills of Materials (BOM’s) and Methods of Manufacture (MOM’s) in ERP system as required

8. Participate in the implementation training and usage of system software and any other software/hardware systems necessary to accomplish objectives

• Provide system software training to team members

Requirements

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Mathematical skills with respect to algebraic calculations
• Proficiency with ERP systems - EPICOR Preferred
• Knowledge of material properties and manufacturing processes for decision making
• Knowledge of raw material and commodities markets

Competencies:

• Use of sound judgment to prioritize and made decisions
• Critical thinking and creative problem solving
• Strong organizational and detail orientation skills
• Proven interpersonal skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business or related field
• 5 years Buyer/Planner experience in production environment
• 2 years’ experience in lean manufacturing environment
• Previous supervisory/management experience
• Proven ability to meet deadlines
• Exposure to Kaizen events or Six Sigma continuous improvement models a plus
• Experience working within ISO-9001 or equivalent quality management system
• CPIM a plus