Production Planning Specialist

The Production Planning Specialist is responsible for coordinating production planning, material scheduling, and inventory management activities to ensure on-time delivery while optimizing inventory levels and manufacturing efficiency. This position works closely with Operations, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Customer Service, Engineering, and Supply Chain to develop and maintain production schedules that support customer demand and business objectives.

The ideal candidate has experience balancing customer requirements, production capacity, material availability, and inventory while thriving in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules based on customer demand, inventory levels, and manufacturing capacity.
• Analyze customer orders, forecasts, and production requirements to create achievable manufacturing schedules.
• Monitor material availability and identify shortages that could impact production or customer deliveries.
• Coordinate with Purchasing and suppliers to resolve material shortages and expedite critical components when necessary.
• Utilize ERP/MRP systems to maintain planning parameters and ensure data accuracy.
• Review production schedules and adjust priorities as customer demand or operational requirements change.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Operations, Quality, and Engineering to resolve scheduling conflicts and improve production flow.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels while minimizing excess and obsolete inventory.
• Track production performance and communicate schedule risks to leadership.
• Support Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) activities and demand planning initiatives.
• Monitor key performance indicators including:

o On-Time Delivery

o Schedule Attainment

o Inventory Accuracy

o Inventory Turns

o Material Availability

o Production Backlog

• Identify opportunities to improve planning processes, scheduling accuracy, and inventory performance.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on supply chain efficiency and operational excellence.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, quality standards, and customer requirements.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of production planning, scheduling, materials planning, or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of:

o Production Planning

o Materials Planning

o MRP/ERP Systems

o Capacity Planning

o Inventory Control

o Manufacturing Operations

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate across multiple departments.

Preferred

• Experience in automotive, diesel, aerospace, industrial manufacturing, or other high-volume precision manufacturing environments.
• Experience with SAP, QAD, Oracle, Plex, Epicor, or similar ERP systems.
• APICS CPIM or CSCP certification.
• Experience supporting Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of demand planning, forecasting, and S&OP processes.

Key Competencies

• Production Planning
• Material Scheduling
• Inventory Management
• Capacity Planning
• ERP/MRP Systems
• Supply Chain Coordination
• Data Analysis
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Continuous Improvement
• Attention to Detail
• Decision Making
• Time Management