About this role
<p><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><strong>Job Title: </strong><strong>Production Planning Support, C</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><strong>Job Code: </strong><strong>40300</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><strong>Job Location: </strong><strong>Huntsville, AL</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><strong>Job Schedule: </strong><strong>9/80</strong></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><strong>Job Description:</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14.0pt">We are seeking a skilled, detail-oriented and proactive Production Planner to join our team. This mid-level role is responsible for leading production planning activities, driving continuous improvement initiatives and optimizing production schedules to ensure efficient manufacturing operations while meeting customer demand. The ideal candidate demonstrates intense ownership, meticulous attention to detail and strong accountability, along with the ability to work collaboratively across departments.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><strong>Essential Functions:</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Work Order & Production Scheduling</span> <ul style="list-style-type:circle"> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Maintain Work Order (WO) date integrity, adjusting in the system based on MRP suggestions and shortage situations</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Analyze and act on Material Availability reports, ensuring on-time WO start and completion</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Open, release and close manufacturing Work Orders with high accuracy and traceability</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Oversee Kanban planning processes, identifying opportunities for optimization and standardization</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Provide strategic input into factory scheduling and ensure planning alignment with business priorities</span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Inventory & Material Coordination</span> <ul style="list-style-type:circle"> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Partner with Logistics and Supply Chain to proactively maintain material availability, POU replenishment and material movement for current and future demand</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Lead collaboration with Purchasing to resolve material shortages and implement recovery actions for upcoming WOs</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Monitor and resolve Point-of-Use inventory discrepancies, supporting root cause investigations and corrective actions</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Support and complete monthly cycle counts and annual WIP counts</span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Cross-Functional Communication & Reporting</span> <ul style="list-style-type:circle"> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Collaborate with Production Supervisors to recover at-risk schedules, prioritize WOs and optimize work center capacity</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Provide strategic updates to the Master Scheduler, flagging risks to customer deliveries and recommending recovery plans</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Lead reporting on schedule performance (e.g., WO completion metrics, root cause analysis) and present findings to leadership</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Facilitate strong workflow communication across production, supply chain, quality and engineering teams</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Contribute scheduling insights to daily Operations Status meetings and support scenario planning as needed</span></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><strong>Qualifications:</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Education & Experience</span> <ul style="list-style-type:circle"> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Bachelor’s degree in Materials Management, Operations Management, Business, or a related field with 2+ years of experience in production planning</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">OR 6+ years of progressive experience in Production Planning within an MRPII environment</span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Technical Skills</span> <ul style="list-style-type:circle"> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle, etc.)</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, with familiarity in PowerBI or similar analytics tools</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Knowledge of Bill of Materials (BOM), routings, lead times and capacity constraints</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Experience with Engineering Change processes and integration into planning systems</span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Soft Skills</span> <ul style="list-style-type:circle"> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Intense ownership – takes full responsibility for planning outcomes and drives solutions proactively</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Meticulous attention to detail – ensures high accuracy across planning, system transactions, and inventory management</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Strong accountability – consistently delivers on commitments, owns results and holds others accountable</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Problem solving and analytical skills – uses data to drive action and resolves issues with urgency</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Excellent communication and interpersonal skills – collaborates effectively across teams and leadership levels</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Highly organized with efficient time management – manages competing priorities, anticipates risk, and aligns daily actions with business goals </span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Resilient, action-oriented and results-driven – thrives under pressure and adapts to changing priorities</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Continuous improvement advocate – identifies gaps, recommends enhancements and supports implantation of lean processes</span></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><strong>Preferred Additional Skills:</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Experience in manufacturing, aerospace, or defense industries</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Experience managing engineering changes within planning organization</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">APICS (CPIM) or similar certification is a plus</span></li> <li style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Working knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and process improvement methodologies (e.g., Kaizen, 5S, Value Stream Mapping)</span></li> </ul>