Production Planner

A collective energy and ambition. A place where you can make a real difference. We’re a company that genuinely cares about our people, our products, our consumers and the environment. Our unique, informal culture champions courage, determination and collaboration. Knowing we have an open and supportive team means each of us has the freedom to take responsibility and ownership. We have a shared passion to work hard, innovate and push boundaries. United by the belief that when we strive for growth, anything is possible. While we might not be the largest company in our industry, we believe we can have the biggest impact because: Together We Have the Power to Win. POSITION SUMMARY: The Production Planner owns the production schedule and material plan for assigned Lakewood lines, translating Corporate Supply Chain demand into an executable, efficient, and fully supplied plan. The planner works in SAP S/4HANA and Swisslog WMS every day to balance customer service, line efficiency, and inventory investment: sequencing production to minimize changeovers and washouts, keeping raw materials and components flowing from suppliers without shortages or excess inventory, and meeting weekly Brand attainment and plant KPIs within budget. The ideal candidate is proactive and analytical. They look over the hill, identify supply, capacity, and inventory risks weeks ahead, act before those risks disrupt production, and clearly explain what happened and what is being done when the plan is missed. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Production Scheduling & Efficiency Review the bi-weekly production plan from Corporate Supply Chain Planning and convert it into a feasible, sequenced line schedule based on capacity, staffing, and material availability. Collaborate with Operations (Packaging and Processing) Sequence production by formulation, bulk, and package size (campaign/wheel scheduling) to minimize downtime and maximize line efficiency (OEE). Actively identify inefficiencies in the planning/production process (avoidable changeovers, short runs, bulk/fill timing gaps, rework) and recommend/implement improvements Account for planned maintenance, sanitation/washouts, plant trials (PTRs), and new product starts when building the schedule Revise production schedules where needed based on component availability, capacity, or demand changes, with clear reasoning and impact Coordinate production time for Plant Trials (PTRs) and attend Brand Team meetings Materials, Inventory & Purchasing Run MRP and act on results daily: convert planned orders and purchase requisitions, place purchase orders, and assign delivery dates based on true production need Expedite (pull in) or de-expedite (push out) open purchase orders with vendors in a timely manner so there are no production disruptions and no unnecessary inventory build at the plant Run daily “Hot Items” and open purchase order reports; follow up with vendors on outstanding deliveries and confirm component availability via SAP, Supply Network Collaboration (SNC), or e-mail Consistently review raw material and component inventory against SAP, WMS, and physical counts; call out and drive resolution of discrepancies with Warehouse, Inventory Control, and Quality Manage raw material inventory to target levels, monitoring days of supply, aged, expiring, blocked, and excess/obsolete material Supply weekly demand forecast to vendors via SAP Issue Requests for Inventory Disposition (RIDs) based on disposal approvals KPIs, Budget & Reporting Own and report planning KPIs, including weekly SKU schedule attainment, inventory levels/days of supply, material availability, and changeover/washout impact Operate within the plant’s inventory and operating budget; support cost reduction by reducing excess inventory, expedite freight, write-offs, and avoidable downtime Write clear, detailed explanations for schedule misses, production cuts, and material shortages, including root cause, business impact, and corrective/p…

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