Supply Planner

The planning team sits within the Sourcing and Supply Team in UK Operations. The department handles the material flow through the factory, enabling our packaging and processing areas to produce stock for customer orders. Post manufacture, the department also handles all product storage and shipment to over 100 countries globally.

Are you an experienced Supply Chain professional looking for your next career opportunity? If so, we have a fantastic opportunity that could offer you a new challenge.

As the Production Planner, you will create & maintaining an optimised executable production schedule for the frozen and firm horizon at the most detailed process step level. Handle master data to ensure accurate capacity planning and lead times for assigned assets.

You will monitor closely actual production status for the resources in scope, monitor plan adherence (production, QC, QA & Logistics. Identify and address potential short-term supply constraints and delays. (Equipment capacity, labour, materials, etc.) Collaborate with global planning and site functions to ensure both excellent customer service and efficient production.

**Typical Accountabilities**:

- Develop detailed production schedule for the Frozen and Firm horizon (reflected in planning system) considering constrained production plan boundaries and an optimised production sequence (cost)
- Optimize the usage of bulk and pack materials (end consumption, FIFO, shelf life planning) to avoid scrapping. Ensure suitable inventory management in place.
- Resolve short-term capacity and workforce issues
- Confirm material availability of all required materials & readiness within the operational horizon. Resolve any material shortage problems in a timely manner.
- Plan for and pack/artwork changes within the horizon. Handle obsolescence and destruction process.
- Analyse on a weekly basis executional supply alerts (including customer/market nodes) and raise to NSP through S&OE process based on threshold
- Rebalance the plan in the frozen horizon escalating to the NSP only where there is a service constraint, a significant trade off decision is required or where the change could impact the tactical plan
- Monitor high priority orders carefully. Follow up on releases/deviations and trigger shipments with warehouse/logistics where needed. Raise delays to NSP, whilst securing reflection in planning systems
- Monitor production actuals vs the production schedule, escalate deviations potentially impacting to customer service. Analyse gaps vs schedule, perform root-cause analysis and create action plan to increase adherence
- Responsible for having a complete set of the latest available capacity and resource/planning master data
- First point of contact for GSC&S & PET organisation related to the operational plan

**Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience**:

- A solid understanding of SAP and more specifically APO
- Work experience planning in a fast paced manufacturing environment
- Management of a complex and changing workload
- Understanding of Pharmaceutical GMP principles an advantage
- Strong influencing skills across all levels of the organisation

**Desirable**:

- A degree or equivalent in Business, Supply Chain Management, Sciences or Engineering is preferred, equivalent experience will be taken into account
- Greater knowledge of other areas of the Supply Chain would be beneficial
- Experience with Lean & Manufacturing Excellence tools

**Be empowered to be innovative and creative where difference is valued**

At AstraZeneca we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and fuel your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration. Always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development.

**So, what’s next...**

**Where can I find out more?