Job Description

SUMMARY

The Material & Production Planner is responsible for developing, maintaining, and executing production and material plans within assigned manufacturing areas (machining, assembly, coating, or related operations). This role owns the translation of customer demand into executable daily and weekly production schedules while ensuring material availability aligns with operational requirements and production execution priorities. This position also maintains schedule integrity, supports Master Production Schedule (MPS) execution, manages material readiness through MRP, and proactively drives recovery actions when disruptions occur.

Success in this role is measured through schedule adherence, production plan execution, material availability performance, responsiveness to disruptions, and the accuracy and stability of planning outputs.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The Value Stream Material & Production Planning is accountable for establishing, monitoring, and improving the following operational performance outcomes:

• Production Planning & Schedule Execution
  • Schedule adherence %
  • Plan vs. Actual Production Attainment
  • Recovery Plan Closure Rate
  • On-Time Order Release %
• Material Planning & Availability
  • Material availability at Job Release %
  • Planner-Driven Shortage Recovery Rate
  • Past Due Material Reduction %
  • Shortage Line Items

• Planning Performance, Coordination & Operational Visibility
  • Value Stream Schedule Stability
  • Planning Accuracy %
  • Escalation Response Time
  • Production Plan Change Frequency

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Master Production Scheduling & Production Planning

• Maintain and support execution of the Master Production Schedule (MPS) for assigned manufacturing areas
• Translate customer demand, forecast requirements, and operational priorities into executable daily and weekly production schedules
• Develop and maintain finite production schedules aligned to labor capacity, machine capacity, material readiness, and operational constraints
• Ensure production schedules are realistic, achievable, and synchronized with operational execution requirements
• Monitor schedule adherence daily and identify risks to execution in real time
• Escalate schedule risks, capacity constraints, and execution barriers through defined operational escalation processes
• Coordinate production schedule recovery actions following downtime, labor shortages, equipment failures, or operational disruptions
• Maintain schedule accuracy and planning discipline within ERP/MRP systems
• Provide structured schedule updates and execution status reporting for Planning leadership and Operations leadership
• Support schedule prioritization decisions based on customer requirements, operational impact, and material availability

Material Planning & MRP Management

• Manage MRP planning activities for assigned manufacturing areas to support uninterrupted production execution
• Ensure raw materials, purchased components, subassemblies, and internally supplied materials are available to support scheduled production demand
• Monitor material shortages, inventory risks, supplier delays, and material-related execution constraints
• Coordinate with Procurement, Supply Chain, and Operations teams to resolve material availability issues and expedite recovery actions
• Maintain alignment between material flow, inventory strategy, and production schedule requirements
• Validate material readiness prior to production release and communicate risks proactively
• Support inventory accuracy, material transaction discipline, and planning parameter maintenance within ERP systems

Operational Coordination & Execution Support

• Participate in daily production meetings, planning reviews, tier meetings, and operational escalation discussions
• Communicate schedule changes, material risks, production priorities, and execution constraints to supervisors and operational leadership
• Support rapid response activities related to schedule disruptions, shortages, quality holds, or operational bottlenecks
• Maintain visibility to shop floor execution performance and ensure planning priorities align with operational realities
• Support root cause analysis and corrective action activities associated with schedule misses, material shortages, or production instability

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS

Required

3-5 years of production planning, scheduling, or material planning experience within a manufacturing environment

• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems in a production environment
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production flow, and capacity constraints
• Strong organizational, coordination, and prioritization skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Strong communication skills with the ability to coordinate across Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Production leadership
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and production reporting tools

Preferred

• Associate's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business, Manufacturing, or related field (or equivalent manufacturing planning experience)
• Experience in heavy manufacturing, machining, fabrication, coating, or assembly operations
• Microsoft Dynamics AX / Dynamics 365 experience
• Experience operating within a structured operating system (EOS, lean daily management, or equivalent)
• Experience with inventory control and material flow management

• APICS / CPIM certification or equivalent planning certification
• Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience

Additional Information

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Must be able to tolerate working in a manufacturing environment, including exposure to noise, dust, grease, heat, and varying temperatures.
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses, hearing protection, steel-toed shoes, and other gear as required by the work area.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in a loud production environment

LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.

Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with federal, state, or local law.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.