Production Planner/Buyer

Job Title: Production Planner/Buyer

Company: Acoustical Solutions

Location: Richmond, VA (On-site)

Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Reports To: Operations Manager

Schedule: Full-time, with flexibility to work extended hours as needed to support multiple production shifts.

Compensation:

• $60,000–$70,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications.
• Company support for earning or maintaining relevant professional certifications, including APICS or similar credentials.
• Additional benefits to be confirmed.

Job Summary

Acoustical Solutions is seeking an experienced, detail-oriented Production Planner/Buyer to coordinate production scheduling, raw material purchasing, inventory management, and order fulfillment in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.This role is responsible for ensuring production teams have the materials, accurate work orders, and scheduling information needed to meet customer deadlines while maintaining efficient operations and minimizing production delays.The ideal candidate has hands-on experience in manufacturing production planning, purchasing, ERP systems, and inventory control. They should be highly organized, proactive in resolving material shortages and scheduling challenges, and comfortable collaborating with production, operations, and customer-facing teams.This position combines production scheduling, material procurement, inventory accuracy, and cross-functional communication to support on-time delivery and continuous operational improvement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and optimize production schedules across manufacturing cells and production lines based on customer demand, available capacity, material availability, and delivery deadlines.
• Apply constraint-based capacity planning and scheduling methods to improve production flow, resource utilization, and operational efficiency.
• Create and manage production orders, ensuring accurate job routing, sequencing, material allocation, and documentation.
• Plan, coordinate, and purchase raw materials and supplies required to support manufacturing operations and customer orders.
• Procure specialized materials, including fabrics, fiberglass, PTED, adhesives, and other production components.
• Generate and manage purchase orders to ensure materials arrive within required production lead times.
• Monitor short-term and upcoming material requirements to prevent shortages, stockouts, and production interruptions.
• Maintain accurate inventory records, establish appropriate inventory levels, and process material usage and scrap transactions in the ERP system.
• Enter and process customer orders from multiple sales channels, ensuring accuracy and timely processing.
• Coordinate with production, purchasing, operations, and customer-facing teams to communicate order status, production schedules, and expected shipment dates.
• Track and report key operational metrics, including on-time delivery, production performance, and manufacturing lead times.
• Identify scheduling conflicts, material shortages, and operational bottlenecks, implementing corrective actions to minimize disruptions.
• Participate in daily production management meetings and contribute to problem-solving initiatives.
• Support continuous improvement efforts focused on reducing lead times, improving inventory accuracy, and increasing manufacturing efficiency.
• Maintain accurate production documentation, purchasing records, and ERP transactions.
• Follow company safety policies, participate in required safety meetings, and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when necessary.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in production planning, manufacturing scheduling, purchasing, materials management, or a closely related manufacturing operations role involving comparable responsibilities.
• Associate degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related field, or equivalent relevant manufacturing experience.
• Hands-on experience coordinating production schedules, purchasing materials, and managing inventory in a manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing processes, production workflows, and capacity planning.
• Understanding of Bills of Materials (BOMs), production routers, and manufacturing work orders.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, for scheduling, tracking, reporting, and data analysis.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet tight deadlines, and maintain accuracy in a fast-paced production environment.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and consistent follow-through.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to coordinate effectively across production, operations, and other departments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify potential delays and implement practical solutions.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Willingness to work extended hours when required to support production operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration, Manufacturing, or a related field.
• APICS/ASCM certification or similar supply chain, production planning, or inventory management credentials.
• Experience using ERP or MRP systems for production scheduling, purchasing, inventory tracking, and order management.
• Experience in custom manufacturing or make-to-order production environments.
• Familiarity with constraint-based scheduling, production capacity planning, and manufacturing lead-time optimization.
• Experience purchasing specialized raw materials or managing supplier lead times.
• Knowledge of inventory control methods, material requirements planning, and stockout prevention.
• Experience tracking manufacturing KPIs, including on-time delivery, inventory accuracy, and production lead times.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement methodologies, or structured problem-solving processes.
• Experience coordinating production requirements across multiple manufacturing cells or shifts.

Work Environment / Schedule

• Full-time, on-site position based in Richmond, VA.
• Primarily office-based work involving extended periods of computer use, ERP systems, production scheduling, and administrative coordination.
• Regular interaction with manufacturing, production, warehouse, and operations teams.
• Periodic presence on the manufacturing floor and in warehouse areas to verify material availability and coordinate production activities.
• Fast-paced manufacturing environment requiring responsiveness to changing production priorities, customer deadlines, and material requirements.
• Flexibility to work extended hours as needed to support multiple production shifts.
• Adherence to company health and safety procedures, including the use of appropriate PPE in designated areas.

Compensation and Benefits

• Annual Salary: $60,000–$70,000, depending on experience and qualifications.
• Company support for obtaining or maintaining relevant professional certifications, including APICS or similar credentials.
• Additional employee benefits will be discussed during the hiring process.

Key Measures of Success

• Production schedules consistently support manufacturing targets and customer delivery commitments.
• Strong on-time delivery performance and reduced production lead times.
• Accurate production orders, purchasing documentation, and ERP inventory records.
• Reliable material availability with minimal production disruptions caused by stockouts.
• Effective communication and coordination across production, purchasing, operations, and customer-facing teams.
• Continuous improvement in scheduling efficiency, inventory management, and overall manufacturing performance.

EEO Statement

Acoustical Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law.