PRODUCTION PLANNER

Job Summary

The Production Planner manages production scheduling and material availability to ensure the company meets customer demand.  This newly created position works closely with Sales, Warehouse and Purchasing employees, and ensures that the plant has the information and ingredients/materials it requires to produce finished goods needed. Position must excel at designing and following structured processes and managing many details.

Essential Job Duties:

• Review customer sales orders, upcoming promotions, seasonal fluctuations and finished goods inventories to plan and schedule production of needed SKUs.  
• Monitor raw material and ingredient inventories to ensure production has the necessary components to produce the scheduled quantities/items.
• Utilize NetSuite ERP to monitor and execute business transactions.  Ability to be a champion and administrator of NetSuite. 
• Develop/refine demand planning tools and inventory replenishment methodologies to predict raw material demand within plant capacity and space constraints. 
• Manages procurement of raw materials, packaging, and other items to keep production stocked.
• Along with Warehouse Manager, manages and monitors inventory levels to ensure accuracy and optimal utilization including minimizing losses due to obsolescence.
• Seek out and negotiate cost savings opportunities across the supply chain – raw materials, packaging, chemicals, MRO, logistics.
• Assist in completing production workorders in MRP system and serves as backup for creating daily production quantities. 
• Follows up on late purchase orders or items that need to be expedited and communicates discrepancies to vendors.
• Participates in inventory cycle counting and semiannual inventory observations.  Drives improvement in inventory management.
• Build a culture of mutual respect, teamwork and professionalism, demonstrating active support of the Company’s beliefs and policies.
• Responsible for reporting any issues that impact food safety or quality immediately or issues brought to your attention by hourly employees.
• Proactively supports the organization’s goals and objectives.  

Qualifications: 

• High school diploma required. Associate or bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years’ related experience in production, inventory accounting or planning function of high-volume manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of supply chain management and production management.
• Ability to analyze data, identify trends and make informed decisions.
• Requires strong mathematical skills and excellent oral, written, and communication skills.
• Requires operational knowledge of computer software (EXCEL, WORD, ACCESS, NetSuite, E-mail, Internet applications, etc.).
• Comfortable with ERP Planning and WMS Systems – NetSuite preferred.
• Effective communication skills with production, warehouse and management teams.
• Knowledge of safety related issues including compliance with State, Federal and Local regulations.

 Physical requirements: 

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Standing, walking, bending, lifting, stooping, crouching, kneeling intermittently, use of hands and arms.

Disclaimer: The physical requirements and job duties are representative only and not exhaustive of the tasks employees may be required to perform. Empire reserves the right to require additional performances/duties as needs of the business dictates.