Production Planner

**Job Description Summary**

Responsible for developing and maintaining detailed production plans and coordinating production schedules to optimise capacity utilisation and to meet customer requirements. Ensures availability of materials and labour to meet production requirements and delivery commitments. Monitors and maintains inventory levels of finished goods. Collects, analyses and prepares data reports including recommendations to meet internal and external demands for materials and finished goods.

**Production Planner Duties & Responsibilities**:

- Create and maintain production plans to meet customer demand while ensuring maximum efficiency for the business.
- Scheduling of the production lines for different instruments product groups and associated assemblies for Sales and Service, factoring in production routing time and material lead time.
- Ensure all paperwork is issued to production in a timely and controlled manner.
- Interpret information from the system and cross reference with plan regarding production requirements.
- Promptly informing the relevant departments of changes to current production schedules.
- Monitor production performance versus expected / planned, and providing reports to the management team and suggestions on increasing efficiency.
- Working closely with Production Department to review weekly production plans issued, and to set correct Kanban levels / safety stock to maintain for production usage. Also, agree production tasks and the generation of daily / weekly / monthly operating reports.
- Working closely with Purchasing Department to check adequate material availability, management of any constraint issues and running material simulations to identify risks to targeted build plans.
- Work closely with Logistics Department to support and maintain replenishment of parts on time for production, good inwards for new deliveries, kitting of works orders and despatch for shipping through Small Pack and Large Pack orders.
- Work closely with Engineering Department on any technical issues and supporting Engineering Change changeovers.
- Attend daily Cell meetings with the production lines and supporting departments for regular reviews of the data within SAP, striving to ensure that the processes in the production and material flow areas are aligned with the SAP processes. Discuss schedule, material shortages, technical issues etc...
- Attend weekly meetings with Quality to discuss returns from customers and any quality constraints affecting production. Support with processing rejects and returns in system.
- Attend monthly meetings with Business Unit and Product Managers to review future Sales forecast and agree build plan to meet customer and inventory expectation.
- Maintain regular system checks for consumption and backflushing processes, and correct where necessary to maintain Site inventory targets. Support with pre-flushing and backflushing of production orders to consume materials and goods receipt of production orders into defined storage location’s, and clearing of exceptions and anomalies.
- Monitor stock levels, ensuring there is sufficient stock to maintain consistent and efficient manufacture of required products.
- Report on finished goods stock value and inventory lists to management. Organise stock transfers as and when required, including all the relevant paperwork.
- Assist and be an active member in annual stock with Finance department, including performing second count and system investigation work to manage stock integrity and accuracy.
- Support Site NPI’s, EOL’s and product transfers for Planning related areas and maximise efficiency in each to ensure Site success.
- Maintain and support Planning Departments KPI’s are met, and strive for benchmark practices in planning, order maintenance, output, inventory control, quality driven work and overall customer satisfaction.
- Support and produce accurate and timely KPI’s to include plant OTIF performance, plan adherence and status on open orders.
- Work closely with Departments to enforce Lean principles and drive continuous improvements to meet Site and Company goals and objectives, always driving for better practices and performance.
- Identify and seek continual improvement in processes and systems, with a view to improve data collection and overall performance and delivery efficiency.

**Production Planner Essential Skills, Experience & Qualifications**:

- Relevant degree level qualification within a relevant supply chain discipline or experience within the planning environment of a manufacturing business.
- Proven experience in planning and demand forecasting within manufacturing business.
- Strong analytical skills with proficiency in data analysis and forecasting tools (ie. Excel, ERP systems, demand planning software).
- Strong SAP ECC/ERP and APO skills, with key experience in planning, purchasing and production background, and be able to interrogate SAP for key information and reporting.
-