Senior Production PlannerSummary:The Senior Production Planner owns the master production schedule and the planning parameters that drive material flow through the Traverse City facility. This role independently determines production sequencing and priority across work centers, establishes MRP planning parameters and inventory targets, and commits delivery dates to customers on behalf of the business. The Senior Production Planner serves as the site's senior planning authority, resolving complex material and capacity constraints and providing technical direction to other planning staff. Decisions made in this role directly affect on-time delivery performance, inventory investment, and customer relationships.
Essential Responsibilities and Duties:Production Scheduling & Backlog Recovery- Own and maintain the Master Production Schedule (MPS), determining production sequencing, lot sizing, and order release timing, to support efficient utilization of plant capacity while meeting customer delivery commitments.
- Set backlog recovery strategy, tracking clear-to-build (CTB) status and establishing and directing action plans to resolve past-due orders.
- Lead capacity planning across key work centers to identify constraints and determine level-loading of shop floor schedules.
- Lead the operational review of Engineering Change Notices (ECNs), including evaluating inventory exposure, approving ERP effectivity dates, and directing phase-in/phase-out cut-overs.
- Participate in the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, translating the demand plan into an executable production schedule and identifying capacity gaps.
MRP Integrity & Inventory Strategy- Establish and maintain accuracy of MRP data, including lead times, yields, routings, and Bills of Materials (BOMs).
- Monitor short-part lists and partner with Purchasing and Logistics to determine resolution paths for supply line disruptions.
- Monitor and partner with Purchasing to set safety stock, reorder points, and min-max parameters, balancing inventory carrying cost against stockout and line-down risk.
- Monitor and partner with Purchasing, Materials Manager, Operations, and Finance to establish inventory targets and turn objectives to approve exceptions to standard planning parameters.
Cross-Functional Communication- Serve as an operational point of contact between Sales, Customer Service, Procurement, and Shop Floor Leadership.
- Support Sales with customer quote requests by analyzing capacity and material lead times to establish and commit Available-to-Promise (ATP) delivery dates.
- Communicate schedule risks and constraints to internal teams and leadership as needed.
- Maintain open, two-way communication with the Production Manager on production schedule changes, ensuring any adjustments are reflected in the schedule and MRP data.
- Participate in daily/weekly production control meetings.
- Participate in continuous improvement projects.
- Provide work direction, training, and technical guidance to Production Planner(s); serve as the site escalation point for complex scheduling and material issues.
- Accountable for on-time delivery, schedule adherence, past-due backlog reduction, and inventory turn performance for the facility.
- Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications: - High school diploma or GED required; Associate or Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or related field strongly preferred.
- 8+ years of experience in scheduling, production planning, or materials management within a manufacturing environment, including ownership of a master production schedule.
- Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems (Epicor preferred).
- Strong Excel skills for calculations, tracking, and reporting.
- Ability to read and interpret BOMs, routings, and work instructions.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Preferred Qualifications: - Experience in hydraulic, fluid power, or industrial manufacturing.
- Familiarity with ECN processes and ERP effectivity date management.
- APICS/CPIM certification strongly preferred.
What We Offer- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Paid holidays
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
- Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options
- Employer-paid life and disability insurance
- Optional hospital, critical illness, and accident insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Safety shoe reimbursement program
- Safety glasses reimbursement program
- Tuition assistance up to $5,000 per year
