Production Planner

About the job

Salary : $65k - $80k, & $2000 objectives-based bonus, $500 annual wellness program.

Company Description

We are looking for a talented Production Planner to contribute and support the planning, coordination, and resource prioritization across the manufacturing group. This position is responsible for planning product manufacturing orders and resource planning and allocation to support business objectives. The Production Planner's responsibilities will include updating production schedules, monitoring production progress, maintaining raw materials inventory, and communicating detailed schedules and regular updates regarding completion or delay of production projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed production schedules, release manufacturing orders, and coordinate overall workflow.

• Monitor raw material levels, forecast needs, and coordinate material flow.

• Analyze production efficiency, identify bottlenecks, and implement improvements to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

• Evaluate existing manufacturing processes and workflows to identify areas that could benefit from changes and improvements (e.g. lean manufacturing).

• Produce accurate and timely reporting of production for internal and external stakeholders.

• Liaise with sales, customer service, purchasing, logistics, and production teams to align schedules with changing demand and capacity.

• Utilize Material Requirement Planning (MRP) systems for planning and production tracking.

• Establish labor standards for assembly operations and monitor performance to set standards.

• Analyze production risks and implement risk mitigation strategies.

• Develop and maintain KPIs, operational dashboards, and project trackers.

• Develop evaluation methods to assess production strengths and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Assist with the troubleshooting of manufacturing processes, techniques, and quality issues to develop corrective actions to maintain expected productivity and acceptance levels.

• Ensure objectives are met in areas of customer satisfaction, safety, and quality.

• Understand and adhere to all business ethical and compliance policies

• Additional responsibilities may be assigned as business needs evolve, consistent with the scope of the role

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, engineering, or related field

• Experience in a high technology manufacturing environment and general understanding of research and development, and new product development processes

• Exceptional leadership, time management, facilitation, and organizational skills

• Knowledge and experience with Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP)

• Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or Material Requirements Planning (MRP) software or systems.

• Conflict resolution and problem-solving skills

• Risk management experience

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to effectively manage several tasks without compromising quality or productivity.

What we are Looking:

• We manufacture high-precision optical components in a dynamic production environment that includes a significant amount of assembly work, select wet chemistry processes, and a small cleanroom operation.

• Currently, production planning is managed through spreadsheets, with individual “builders” assigned to each order. As part of our growth and modernization efforts, we are transitioning toward a more structured production planning function, including the first-time implementation and integration of an MRP system.

• This role is ideal for someone who is comfortable working in an early-stage planning environment and excited to help define, build, and formalize production planning processes from the ground up. The Production Planner will play a key role in establishing how production planning is structured, executed, and adopted across the manufacturing team.

• This position is strongly focused on production planning and manufacturing execution, including scheduling, coordination, and workflow management, rather than procurement or purchasing activities.