Torchora
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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Production Planner

💰 $65,000 - $95,000

ManufacturingSupply ChainLogisticsOperations

🎯 Role Definition

As a Production Planner, you will be the central hub of our manufacturing operations, responsible for creating and maintaining detailed production schedules that balance efficiency, capacity, and demand. You will work closely with procurement, logistics, sales, and the production floor to ensure that all resources—materials, equipment, and labor—are available and aligned to meet production targets on time and within budget. Your analytical prowess will be key in forecasting demand, identifying potential bottlenecks, and driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance our overall operational effectiveness.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Production Coordinator
  • Supply Chain Analyst
  • Junior Buyer

Advancement To:

  • Senior Production Planner
  • Master Production Scheduler
  • Supply Chain Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Demand Planner
  • Inventory Manager
  • Procurement Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, maintain, and publish detailed production schedules for all manufacturing lines based on sales forecasts, customer orders, and available plant capacity.
  • Analyze and manage the creation, release, and completion of work orders to ensure strict alignment with the Master Production Schedule (MPS).
  • Monitor production progress against the established schedule in real-time, proactively identifying and addressing any deviations, delays, or potential bottlenecks.
  • Collaborate closely with the procurement team to guarantee the timely availability of all necessary raw materials and components, aligning purchasing activities with production needs.
  • Coordinate with sales, marketing, and customer service teams to understand demand fluctuations and effectively incorporate changes into the production plan with minimal disruption.
  • Maintain optimal inventory levels for raw materials, work-in-progress (WIP), and finished goods to minimize carrying costs while preventing stockouts and service failures.
  • Utilize the company's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Material Requirements Planning (MRP) systems to manage all production-related data and generate insightful reports.
  • Lead or actively participate in daily production meetings to communicate schedules, set priorities, and resolve any immediate operational challenges with production supervisors.
  • Perform detailed capacity planning analysis, evaluating machine and labor resources to accurately determine production capabilities and identify future investment needs.
  • Generate, track, and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) such as Schedule Attainment, On-Time Delivery, Inventory Turns, and Production Efficiency to drive performance.
  • Identify and champion opportunities for process improvement within the planning and scheduling functions to enhance efficiency, reduce lead times, and lower operational costs.
  • Manage the detailed planning of new product introductions (NPIs), ensuring a smooth and efficient transition from the development phase to full-scale production.
  • Reconcile and resolve any discrepancies in inventory counts, production reporting, and material consumption to maintain a high level of data accuracy within the ERP system.
  • Create and manage build-to-stock and build-to-order plans, strategically balancing production for forecasted demand against specific, high-priority customer requirements.
  • Communicate potential risks to the supply chain, such as material shortages or capacity constraints, to all relevant stakeholders and proactively develop mitigation plans.
  • Revise production schedules as necessary in response to engineering design changes, labor or material shortages, machine downtime, or other unforeseen interruptions.
  • Act as the primary point of contact and liaison between the production floor and other departments regarding scheduling conflicts, order priorities, and status updates.
  • Conduct "what-if" scenario analysis to assess the impact of different demand situations or production constraints on the overall operational plan and financial outcomes.
  • Ensure all planning activities and production schedules comply with company quality standards, safety regulations, and industry best practices.
  • Support the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process by providing accurate data and insights on production capacity, performance, and constraints.
  • Expedite and prioritize critical operations that are delaying schedules and alter subsequent schedules to meet unforeseen conditions while ensuring minimal disruption.
  • Manage engineering change orders (ECOs) and their impact on material planning and production scheduling, coordinating material phase-in and phase-out activities.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis for management.
  • Contribute to the organization's broader supply chain strategy and digital transformation roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate complex operational needs into clear planning requirements.
  • Participate in continuous improvement initiatives and Kaizen events to optimize workflow and reduce waste.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Deep proficiency with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics).
  • Expertise in Material Requirements Planning (MRP) principles, systems, and best practices.
  • Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, index/match, and complex formulas for robust data analysis.
  • Proven experience with Master Production Scheduling (MPS) and long-range capacity planning.
  • Strong understanding of modern inventory management techniques (e.g., JIT, Kanban, safety stock calculation).
  • Solid knowledge of manufacturing processes, production floor workflows, and lean manufacturing principles.
  • Data analysis and statistical forecasting skills to interpret demand trends and inform planning decisions.
  • Familiarity with the formal Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) cycle.
  • APICS certification (e.g., CPIM, CSCP) is highly desirable and a significant advantage.
  • Experience with data visualization tools like Tableau or Power BI for creating performance dashboards is a plus.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional problem-solving and analytical thinking abilities to resolve complex scheduling conflicts.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for effective collaboration across all levels of the organization.
  • Meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy in all data and reports.
  • Excellent organizational and time-management skills with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple competing priorities.
  • A proactive, self-starting, and results-oriented mindset with a strong sense of ownership.
  • The ability to remain calm and make effective decisions under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
  • High degree of adaptability and flexibility to respond to rapidly changing priorities and unforeseen challenges.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field or equivalent professional work experience.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's or Master's Degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Business Administration
  • Operations Management
  • Industrial Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3-5 years of direct experience in a production planning, scheduling, or supply chain role within a manufacturing environment.

Preferred:

5+ years of experience with a proven track record of process improvement, cost reduction, and managing complex production schedules in a dynamic setting.

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