Production Planner

Reporting to the Planning Manager, responsibilty is for the day-to-day production planning and scheduling activities. This role ensures that production plans are translated into achievable schedules, materials are aligned, and communication across departments is clear and timely. The position requires a detail-oriented individual who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and can respond quickly to changing priorities.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

* Maintain and update the 6–8 week rolling production schedule in line with the agreed production plan.

* Translate the strategic production plan into detailed, executable schedules.

* Work closely with Purchasing to ensure material availability aligns with production requirements.

* Identify and communicate any material shortages or constraints impacting the production schedule.

* Liaise daily with Production to monitor progress against schedule and adjust plans as required.

* Update and maintain data within the MRP/ERP system (production rates, lead times, yields, etc.).

* Support dating and re-dating of sales orders in line with production capacity and material availability.

* Attend and contribute to daily/weekly production meetings and stand-ups.

* Highlight any risks to customer delivery dates and propose mitigation actions.

* Track and report on schedule adherence and production performance.

* Support the Planning Manager with KPI reporting and data analysis.

* Assist in maintaining accurate demand and forecast data within the ERP system.

* Monitor and escalate any significant deviations from plan.

* Manage and coordinate the NPI (New Product Introduction) and product changeover process, ensuring smooth transition into production with minimal disruption to schedules, materials, and operational efficiency.

* Ensure all production documentation is accurate and released in a timely manner.

* Support continuous improvement initiatives within the planning function.

* Assist in system improvements and data accuracy projects.

* Work cross-functionally with Sales, Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure alignment.

* Provide ad-hoc planning support as required by the business.

Key Skills & Experience

Essential :

* Previous experience in a production planning or scheduling role

* Experience within a manufacturing environment

* Experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle or NetSuite (including MRP / production planning modules)

* Strong Excel skills and proficiency in MS Office

* Good analytical and problem-solving skills.

* High attention to detail and accuracy.

* Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

* Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.

* Ability to build effective working relationships across departments.

* Proactive approach with a continuous improvement mindset.

Desirable

* Understanding of production processes and capacity constraints