Summary: The Program Planner is responsible for developing and executing production plans that ensure material availability, manufacturing readiness, and on-time delivery in support of customer requirements and production schedules. This role manages work order execution, material planning, and production priorities while coordinating cross-functional activities to optimize manufacturing flow, capacity utilization, and inventory performance.
Working closely with Master Scheduling, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Production Control, and Program Management, the Program Planner analyzes demand, material constraints, engineering changes, and production capacity to develop executable manufacturing plans that support operational efficiency and customer delivery commitments.
Essential Functions:- Develop, release, and manage production work orders to support customer demand, manufacturing capacity, and production schedules.
- Analyze Material Requirements Planning (MRP) recommendations and production demand to ensure timely material availability and efficient manufacturing execution.
- Monitor production schedules, work order status, and material constraints while identifying risks that could impact on-time delivery.
- Coordinate with Purchasing, Production Control, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Quality to resolve material shortages, scheduling conflicts, and production constraints.
- Analyze engineering changes, Bills of Material (BOMs), and product structure to ensure accurate planning, material availability, and production readiness.
- Support New Product Introduction (NPI) activities by coordinating production planning, material readiness, engineering changes, and manufacturing implementation.
- Evaluate production capacity, inventory availability, and manufacturing priorities to optimize workflow, material utilization, and resource allocation.
- Monitor production performance, schedule attainment, work-in-process (WIP), and inventory levels while recommending corrective actions to improve operational performance.
- Analyze demand changes, production priorities, and supply constraints to evaluate schedule impacts and communicate planning recommendations to Supply Chain leadership.
- Generate and maintain planning reports, production schedules, inventory analyses, and operational metrics to support business decisions.
- Support expedited production requirements, recovery plans, and schedule changes to meet customer commitments and business objectives.
- Participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on production planning, inventory optimization, schedule adherence, manufacturing efficiency, and operational performance.
Competencies:- Production Planning: Ability to develop and execute production plans that align customer demand, material availability, manufacturing capacity, and business objectives.
- Master Scheduling: Ability to support Master Production Schedule (MPS) execution while maintaining schedule adherence and production priorities.
- Material Requirements Planning (MRP): Ability to analyze MRP recommendations and manage planning activities that ensure material availability and production continuity.
- Capacity Planning: Ability to evaluate production capacity, resource availability, and manufacturing constraints to optimize production performance.
- Production Control: Ability to coordinate production execution, monitor work order status, and support efficient manufacturing operations.
- Inventory Management: Ability to optimize inventory levels while supporting inventory accuracy, material availability, and production continuity.
- Bills of Material (BOM) Management: Ability to analyze and maintain BOM structures that support accurate planning and manufacturing execution.
- Demand Planning: Ability to analyze customer demand, forecast requirements, and evaluate schedule impacts to support business priorities.
- Supply Chain Analytics: Ability to analyze planning performance, operational metrics, inventory trends, and manufacturing data to support informed decision-making.
- Problem Solving: Ability to identify planning issues, evaluate operational impacts, and implement effective solutions that improve production performance.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with Manufacturing, Purchasing, Engineering, Quality, Production Control, Program Management, and Supply Chain to achieve planning objectives.
- Continuous Improvement: Ability to identify opportunities that improve production planning, inventory optimization, schedule adherence, and operational performance.
- Technical Proficiency: Proficiency using ERP/MRP systems, Microsoft Office applications, planning software, and business reporting tools.
Qualifications: - Education:
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, or a related field preferred.
- Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
- Certifications:
- ASCM Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM), preferred
- ASCM Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), preferred
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, preferred
- Experience:
- Minimum of three (3) years of production planning, master scheduling, materials planning, production control, or supply chain experience within a manufacturing environment.
- Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) experience strongly preferred.
- Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems to support production planning and material management.
- Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI), engineering changes, and manufacturing operations.
- Working knowledge of Bills of Material (BOMs), production scheduling, inventory management, and manufacturing processes.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications.
Physical Requirements:- Ability to stand and/or walk for extended periods during the work shift.
- Ability to sit for extended periods while performing computer-based work.
- Ability to use a computer, keyboard, mouse, telephone, and other office equipment for prolonged periods.
- Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through electronic communication methods.
- Ability to occasionally stand, walk, bend, reach, and lift office materials up to 25 pounds.
- Ability to visually review documents, reports, spreadsheets, and computer displays with or without corrective lenses.
- Ability to move throughout office and production areas as business needs require.
- Ability to wear and properly utilize required personal protective equipment (PPE) and ESD protection devices.
Mental Requirements:- The employee is required to exercise sound judgment, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills in a professional business environment.
- The role requires the ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities, manage competing deadlines, interpret and analyze information, and make decisions consistent with organizational objectives.
- Employees must effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders, maintain confidentiality where appropriate, and adapt to changing business needs.
- The position requires sustained concentration, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently while maintaining productivity and accuracy.
Work Environment: - Work is performed in a combination of professional office, electronics manufacturing, remote, and travel-based environments.
- Responsibilities may require regular interaction with production areas, exposing employees to moderate noise levels, fluctuating temperatures, production equipment, soldering operations, automated machinery, and general manufacturing activity.
- Duties may involve extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, bending, computer-based work, and occasional lifting or movement of materials consistent with job responsibilities. Employees entering production or controlled areas are required to follow all environmental, safety, ESD, quality, and equipment-handling procedures, including the use of SMTC-provided ESD-safe items where applicable.
- The role also requires travel between company locations, customer sites, or other business-related destinations as needed, as well as the ability to maintain a safe and secure remote workspace with reliable internet access when working remotely.
- Employees must remain attentive and compliant with all operational, safety, quality, confidentiality, and company policy requirements across all work environments.
Travel: 0-10% of the time based on business needs.Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
