Production / Supply Chain Planner

Overview:

We are currently recruiting for a knowledgeable and highly organised Production / Supply Chain Planner to join a growing and acquisitive business based in Chorley. This is a great opportunity for a supply chain professional who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and has a strong understanding of supply chain and manufacturing.

The successful candidate will play a key role in making sure the right products are made in the right quantities, at the right time, with the materials in place to support them and inventory held at the right level.

Key Responsibilities:

Production Planning & Scheduling:

Develop, maintain and publish production schedules across both manufacturing sites, sequencing and prioritising work orders to meet customer requirements.
Translate sales forecasts, customer orders and demand signals into achievable, capacity-balanced build plans.
Monitor adherence to plan daily and re-plan promptly in response to disruption, shortages or demand change. Materials & Supply Chain Planning:

Run MRP and convert net requirements into clear purchase and work-order signals.
Manage material availability to support the build plan, identifying and expediting shortages before they stop the line with a coordinated approach with Procurement teams.
Maintain inventory (raw materials, WIP and finished goods) at target levels, minimising excess and obsolete stock while protecting supply continuity.
Work closely with Procurement on lead times, supplier performance and risk, feeding into the wider S&OP / demand planning cycle. Cross-site Coordination:

Coordinate planning across both sites as a single, joined-up operation, balancing workload, sharing capacity and giving leadership one consolidated view of demand, capacity and inventory.
Standardise planning processes, data and reporting across the two facilities so they are managed consistently. Systems, Data & Continuous Improvement:

Maintain the integrity of core planning data, bills of materials, routings, lead times and safety stock, within the ERP / MRP systems.
Produce planning KPIs and reporting (e.g. schedule adherence, OTIF, inventory turns, shortage trends) and present a clear picture of performance and risk.
Identify and drive continuous improvement in planning processes, data accuracy and system use. Stakeholder & Communication:

Act as the daily planning point of contact across Manufacturing, Procurement, Warehouse, Customer Service and Sales Operations.
Communicate plan changes, constraints and risks clearly and early, so the wider business can respond. Skills & Experience Required:

Background note:  we welcome applicants from either a production planning or a supply chain / materials planning background. The skills are highly interchangeable and full consideration will be given to both.

Essential:

Demonstrable planning experience in a manufacturing or supply chain environment, production planning, scheduling, materials planning or MRP.
Sound working understanding of MRP / ERP principles and how planning data drives the supply chain.
Strong numeracy and analytical skills, with confident use of Excel and planning data.
Ability to balance competing priorities, hold a plan steady under pressure and re-plan calmly when things change.
Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
High attention to detail and a disciplined, organised approach. Desirable:

Experience planning across more than one site or facility.
Relevant professional qualification (e.g. APICS CPIM, CIPS) or working towards one.
Specific ERP / MRP system experience [insert Scorpion's system once confirmed].
Exposure to Lean / continuous improvement methods.
Background in electronics or automotive manufacturing. What's on Offer:
Salary up to £39,000, depending on experience.
Opportunity to join a growing and successful organisation.
25 days of annual leave.
Supportive and collaborative working environment.
Career development and progression opportunities