Basic Purpose and Objective of the Position

The Production Planner is responsible for planning, coordinating, and scheduling manufacturing activities within a high-mix, low-volume magnet manufacturing environment to ensure customer delivery commitments are achieved while maximizing operational efficiency. This role develops and maintains detailed production schedules, manages work order priorities, monitors material availability, and coordinates production activities across machining, EDM, grinding, assembly, cleaning, inspection, testing, and outsourced processing operations.

The Production Planner serves as the primary link between Customer Service, Sales, Operations, Purchasing, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure customer requirements are met in executable production plans. The role is responsible for maintaining accurate planning data within the EPICOR ERP system, monitoring schedule adherence, identifying potential bottlenecks, and proactively addressing issues that could impact delivery performance.

This position supports operations teams by providing detailed production planning, capacity visibility, and operational execution support while driving continuous improvement in scheduling accuracy, inventory management, and customer service performance.

Major Responsibilities

Production Planning & Scheduling

• Develop and maintain detailed production schedules to support customer delivery requirements and operational priorities.
• Plan and schedule work orders across machining, EDM, grinding, assembly, cleaning, inspection, testing, and other manufacturing processes.
• Release and prioritize work orders to ensure efficient workflow through manufacturing operations and bottleneck resources.
• Coordinate production schedules with material availability, labor resources, machine capacity, and customer priorities.
• Monitor daily production performance and adjust schedules as required to address changing priorities, material shortages, equipment downtime, or customer expedite requests.
• Track work-in-process (WIP) and ensure timely movement of orders through the manufacturing process.
• Coordinate internal and external processing requirements, including metallization, coating, plating, welding, heat treatment, testing, and other subcontracted operations.

Material Planning & Supply Chain Coordination

• Review material requirements and coordinate with Purchasing to ensure timely availability of raw materials, components, and outside processing services.
• Monitor material shortages and supplier delivery performance, identifying risks that could impact production schedules.
• Work closely with warehouse and inventory teams to ensure inventory accuracy and material availability.
• Support inventory management initiatives by balancing material availability with inventory investment objectives.
• Assist with the management of safety stock levels and replenishment requirements for critical materials and components.

Customer Order Management

• Support customer order fulfillment by ensuring production schedules align with committed delivery dates.
• Collaborate with Customer Service and Sales to provide order status updates and communicate potential delivery risks.
• Manage expedite requests and changing customer priorities while minimizing disruption to overall production schedules.
• Assist in establishing realistic production completion dates based on capacity, material availability, and operational constraints.

EPICOR ERP & Planning System Management

• Utilize EPICOR ERP planning and scheduling tools to manage production schedules, work order releases, and material requirements.
• Maintain accurate planning data including work orders, scheduling information, lead times, and inventory transactions.
• Review EPICOR MRP recommendations and coordinate actions with Purchasing, Operations, and the Master Production Scheduler.
• Ensure Bills of Material (BOMs), routings, and planning parameters accurately support production requirements.
• Generate reports and planning metrics to support daily production management and operational decision-making.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to EPICOR utilization, data accuracy, and planning effectiveness.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Participate in daily and weekly production meetings to review priorities, capacity constraints, material shortages, and customer commitments.
• Collaborate with Engineering on changes, new product introductions, and process improvements impacting production schedules.
• Work closely with Operations, Quality, Purchasing, and Supply Chain teams to resolve issues affecting production flow and customer deliveries.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or Liberal Arts or equivalent experience required.
• 4 to 8 years of product planning experience required.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret mechanical drawings, technical journals and basic statistical reports.
• Must have an understanding of MRP software; EPICOR preferred.
• Strong general working knowledge of basic computer programs including, but not limited to MS Word, Excel, Web, etc.
• Familiarity with standard production and manufacturing concepts including, but not limited to: scheduling, costing, technical drawings, bills-of-material, production rates, purchase orders, work orders, sales orders, work centers, written procedures & work instructions, work order routes, production capacity, etc.
• Must have a working understanding of planning horizons, product forecasts, forecast consumption, product families, target inventories, just-in-time and Lean management concepts.
• Organizational skills to allow for the integration of multiple planning and scheduling activities simultaneously.
• Appropriate interpersonal skills to allow for professional, courteous and productive interaction with subordinates, co-workers and supervisors

Targeted Salary Range:

$87,000-$100,000 + bonus

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including Medical/Rx, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Accounts, Basic Life/AD&D (includes coverage for dependents 100% Company paid), Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability (100% Company paid), Supplemental Life/AD&D, 401(k) with Company match, tuition assistance after 1 year, paid time off, and 11 paid holidays.