Manufacturing Planner

Job Title: Manufacturing Planner

Job Description

The APU Manufacturing Planner develops and maintains accurate production schedules for an Autonomous Production Unit (APU) within a precision manufacturing environment. This role oversees the flow of work within the assigned area, identifies and mitigates risks to on-time delivery, and ensures customer order promise dates and planned shipment dates are consistently met. The planner manages day-to-day product movement through outside services, monitors and adjusts MRP scheduling parameters to optimize manufacturing flow, and supports continuous improvement initiatives that enhance quality, efficiency, and financial performance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain accurate production schedules for the assigned APU using appropriate ordering strategies such as MRP, Kanban, and other planning methods.
• Release manufacturing orders, monitor production progress, and expedite the flow of materials and orders to ensure committed ship dates are consistently achieved.
• Understand the flow of work within the assigned area to identify, resolve, or escalate risks associated with meeting on-time delivery commitments.
• Accurately communicate customer order promise delivery dates and planned shipment dates to ensure backlog and financial shipping projections remain current and reliable.
• Report risks associated with sales revenue and create recommendations for resolution, working collaboratively to deploy risk reduction plans that support shipment goals.
• Manage day-to-day movement of product through outside services to meet on-time customer delivery requirements.
• Monitor and adjust MRP scheduling parameters to optimize manufacturing flow and support efficient use of resources.
• Collaborate with APU team members to develop tools and procedures that maximize facility and equipment utilization, improve product quality, and drive process improvements.
• Communicate the status of open orders and changes in forecasts or other demand to project managers, master schedulers, and customers as needed.
• Assist in managing inventory levels by monitoring assigned inventory items to ensure both project-specific and broader division objectives are met.
• Identify continuous improvement opportunities and initiate efforts that support LEAN principles, including deployment of alternate and optimized planning methods within the ERP or MRP systems.
• Engage in effective cross-functional collaboration to resolve current or potential scheduling, capacity, or supply chain issues impacting delivery performance.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 3+ years of experience in manufacturing planning or production scheduling within a precision machine or manufacturing shop environment.
• Hands-on experience with manufacturing planning using ERP systems, including MRP and schedule planning functionality.
• Work history in an ISO-regulated or medical device manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, supply chain processes, and planning/scheduling methodologies.
• Proficiency with ERP systems, including SAP or similar platforms, for planning and scheduling activities.
• Understanding of LEAN manufacturing principles and Lean Six Sigma methodologies as applied to production and planning.
• Familiarity with MRP processes and the ability to monitor and adjust MRP parameters to optimize manufacturing flow.
• Ability to accurately communicate order delivery and shipment dates and maintain reliable backlog and shipping projections.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on data-driven decision-making in a manufacturing context.
• Effective collaboration and communication skills to work with project managers, schedulers, customers, and cross-functional teams.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in a precision machine shop environment, particularly in regulated or medical device manufacturing.
• Experience working within an ISO-certified or medical device environment.
• Formal LEAN or Six Sigma training with demonstrated application in process improvement initiatives.
• APICS coursework toward CPIM or CIRM certification.
• Advanced education in Supply Chain Management or Manufacturing Engineering.
• Advanced education or job experience focused on data-based problem identification, root cause analysis, and implementation of corrective actions.
• Lean or Six Sigma Black Belt certification with at least 2 years of work experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of planning tools and procedures that support facility and equipment utilization and quality improvement.
• Interest in continuous learning and professional development in manufacturing planning, ERP optimization, and supply chain management.

This is a Permanent position based out of Big Lake, MN.

The pay range for this position is $85000.00 - $105000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Health & Insurance Benefits:- Medical plans = company contributes a generous portion of the premium cost.- Dental plan = employer‑supported.- Voluntary vision plan = low‑cost, employee‑elected.- Basic Life Insurance = 100% employer‑paid.- Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) = 100% employer‑paid.- Short‑term disability = 100% employer‑paid.- Long‑term disability = 100% employer‑paid.- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) = 100% employer‑paid.Retirement & Savings:- Retirement contributions (details referenced in the summary, plan documents hold the specifics).Spending Accounts:- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)- Dependent Care FSA

This is a fully onsite position in Big Lake,MN.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 9, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

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