Production Planner

**Production Planner**

**Macclesfield**

Make a positive impact, in a team where it means more

In Operations, we have a big ambition - to deliver more medicines to patients, quicker and more affordably. Backed by the investment, leadership and a clear plan to get there, we bring personal dedication and out of the box thinking.

Here you can feel a strong connection to the patient. It’s what drives us every day. We are united behind one mission - finding the best solution to put our patients first. Play a critical role in making this happen, delivering our innovative medicines all the way until they reach our patients. Adapt and innovate at pace

The Production Planner is responsible for creating & maintaining an optimised executable production schedule for the frozen and firm horizon at the most detailed process step level. Managing master data to ensure accurate capacity planning and lead times for assigned assets.

In this role, you will closely monitor actual production status for the resources in scope and monitor plan adherence. Identify and address potential short-term supply constraints/delays and collaborate with global planning and site functions to ensure both excellent customer service and efficient production.

**Responsibilities**:
**Optimised Production Schedule**

Co-ordinate with Network Supply Planner (NSP) on rolling weekly planned orders into the firm horizon and develop detailed production schedules for the Frozen and Firm horizon. Optimize the usage of bulk and pack materials to avoid scrapping and ensure suitable inventory management in place. Ensure scheduling or urgent late call requirements (approved by NSP) to increase agility and flexibility.

**Material Availability & Switch Artwork Planning**

Confirm material availability of all required materials & readiness within the operational horizon and resolve any material shortage problems in a timely manner. Co-ordinate with material planner or is responsible to place purchase orders on raw materials & packaging components and follow up with suppliers. Review material shortage alerts for both global and local materials.

Plan for and pack/artwork changes within the horizon. Manage obsolescence and destruction process.

**Sales & Operations Execution (S&OP) Short Term Issue Detection and Actuals Monitoring**

Analyse weekly executional supply alerts and raise any issues to NSP through S&OE process. Rebalance the plan in the frozen horizon raising issues 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 and 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, raising deviations potentially impacting to customer service. Analyse gaps vs schedule, perform root-cause analysis and create action plan to increase adherence. Advise Quality Assurance (QA)/Process Execution Team (PET) on timing/impact of deviations.

Generate production reports to operation for critical decision making purposes

**Capacity & Resource Data Management**

Responsible for having a complete set of the latest available capacity and resource/planning master data updated in the systems and communicate any data changes which impact the tactical horizon. Manage the Downtime process for assigned assets

**PET/Resource Plan Interface**

Act as the first point of contact for Global Supply Chain & Strategy (GSC&S) and PET organisation related to the operational plan

**Handover to Make & Control**

Convert the detailed Schedule into process orders and communicate to PET while co ordinating internally to ensure a realistic production plan. Communicate specific order/customer requirements to PET and site functions. Communicate in advance resource requirements for effective employee/shift rostering with PET on agreed production schedule.

**Essential Skills**:

- In depth working knowledge of SAP and more specifically APO PPDS
- Work experience of planning in a fast moving 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 Skills**:

- 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

There are so many fantastic employee benefits that AstraZeneca offer AstraZeneca can offer you a competitive salary, private healthcare, a fantastic holiday allowance, phenomenal training and development opportunities, and much more.

**So, what’s next**

Are you already imagining yourself joining our tea