Production Planner - Senior

Position Overview The Production Planning Manager is responsible for leading the production scheduling and manufacturing planning function for the company's diverse production environment. This role oversees the development, execution, and continuous improvement of the Master Production Schedule (MPS) to ensure efficient production flow, balanced capacity utilization, and on-time order fulfillment. While the primary focus of this role is production planning and scheduling, the company seeks a candidate with broader manufacturing and production operations experience who understands the realities of shop floor execution, labor utilization, production constraints, throughput optimization, and operational workflow management. This operational perspective is critical in helping drive scheduling accuracy, manufacturing efficiency, cross-functional alignment, and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the organization. The ideal candidate combines strong analytical and systems expertise with practical manufacturing leadership experience and the ability to influence operational performance through effective planning, communication, and process discipline.

Key Responsibilities:

Continuous Improvement- Process Streamlining within the production planning department

Direct Supervision:

Manage, mentor, and develop a team of Production Planners and Production Administrators. Oversee the Master Production Schedule for Mechanical & Textile Manage raw material flow (webbing, hardware, thread) and labor-intensive cut-and-sew scheduling.

Capacity Planning:

Utilize ERP systems to forecast capacity constraints and balance labor loads based on fluctuating demand.

Inventory Control:

optimize inventory levels to prevent stockouts of critical safety components while minimizing carrying costs. Report inventory Health and production output to the relevant stakeholders

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

Act as the primary liaison between Demand planning, Customer service, Procurement, and Production to align customer requirements with manufacturing capabilities.

System Optimization:

Champion the cleanup and optimization of ERP data (safety stocks, lead times, lot sizes) to ensure accurate automated planning. Manufacturing Operations Alignment Develop production schedules that align with real-world manufacturing capabilities, labor constraints, machine capacities, and operational priorities. Collaborate closely with Production Managers and Supervisors to ensure schedules are executable, realistic, and optimized for manufacturing flow. Evaluate manufacturing bottlenecks, workflow disruptions, and operational inefficiencies that impact schedule attainment and throughput. Support production floor execution by proactively adjusting schedules based on labor availability, downtime, engineering changes, and production constraints. Operational Process Improvement Partner with manufacturing leadership to improve: Production flow Schedule adherence Manufacturing efficiency Throughput performance Work center utilization Participate in initiatives involving: Lean manufacturing Waste reduction Workflow balancing Capacity optimization Labor efficiency improvements Use operational and production data to identify root causes of schedule misses and implement corrective actions. Production & Manufacturing Insight Utilize practical manufacturing knowledge to improve planning assumptions, labor standards, routing accuracy, and scheduling logic. Support alignment between engineering, manufacturing, planning, and operations teams to improve communication and execution.

Understand production floor dynamics including:

Mechanical assembly operations Textile / cut-and-sew manufacturing Production sequencing Changeover impacts Labor-intensive manufacturing environments Leadership & Department Development Mentor planners and production administration personnel in manufacturing awareness, scheduling discipline, and operational collaboration. Help build a more proactive and data-driven production planning department focused on execution, accountability, and continuous improvement. Promote stronger communication and coordination between Planning and Production teams. Qualifications •

Education:

Bachelor's degree in operations management, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, or related field, preferable Minimum 5-7+ years of experience in production planning, manufacturing operations, scheduling, or production management within a manufacturing environment.

Prior experience as a:

Production Planning Manager Master Scheduler Production Manager Manufacturing Supervisor Operations Planner Or similar operational leadership role strongly preferred. Demonstrated understanding of manufacturing operations, labor management, production flow, and shop floor execution.

Experience supporting or managing:

High-mix manufacturing environments Labor-intensive production operations Mechanical and/or textile manufacturing processes Proven ability to bridge the gap between planning systems and real-world manufacturing execution. Expert proficiency in ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or Microsoft Dynamics). Strong data analysis skills (Excel/Power BI) for forecasting and reporting. Knowledge of demand-based planning Experience with Kanban replenishment systems Preferred Manufacturing Background Experience working directly within production or manufacturing operations before transitioning into planning roles strongly preferred.

Strong understanding of:

Manufacturing KPIs Throughput optimization Schedule attainment Capacity utilization Workflow balancing Continuous improvement methodologies Benefits Competitive salary. Comprehensive health benefits package including medical, dental, and vision. Paid time off and holiday leave. Retirement savings plan with company match. • We also recognize the value of discipline, teamwork, and technical expertise gained through military service. Qualified veterans and transitioning service members are strongly encouraged to apply.

Pay:

$81,000.00 - $105,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Application Question(s): Do you have experience creating Production Schedules? Do you have experience with Demand Planning?

Work Location:

In person