Production Planner

Production Planner

Department: Supply Chain IOS

Reports To: Supply Chain Manager

Position Summary

The Production Planner is responsible for developing, maintaining, and optimizing production schedules to ensure timely delivery of high-quality medical devices and components. This role coordinates closely with Operation, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Quality to align production capacity, material availability, and customer demand.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, analytical, and proactive in identifying constraints, resolving scheduling challenges, and driving improvements in on-time delivery, inventory management, and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning & Scheduling

• Develop and maintain detailed production schedules based on customer demand, inventory levels, material availability, and manufacturing capacity.
• Translate customer orders and forecasts into actionable production plans.
• Monitor production progress and adjust schedules to address changing priorities, capacity constraints, or material shortages.
• Coordinate with operations supervisors to ensure schedules are achievable and aligned with operational capabilities.
• Identify bottlenecks and recommend solutions to minimize downtime and production delays.

Materials & Inventory Management

• Utilize ERP/MRP systems to evaluate material requirements and support production readiness.
• Partner with Procurement and Inventory teams to ensure timely availability of raw materials and components.
• Monitor work-in-process (WIP), inventory levels, and production order status.
• Identify potential material shortages and proactively communicate risks to production schedules.
• Support inventory optimization initiatives while maintaining customer service levels.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Collaborate with Customer Service, Operations, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain to align production priorities.
• Communicate schedule changes, production constraints, and potential delivery risks to key stakeholders.
• Participate in daily production meetings and support resolution of scheduling issues.
• Coordinate planning activities associated with new product introductions, engineering changes, and customer demand fluctuations.
• Support recovery plans for overdue orders and critical customer commitments.

Continuous Improvement & Performance

• Track and analyze key planning metrics, including on-time delivery, schedule attainment, backlog, inventory accuracy, and production lead times.
• Identify opportunities to improve scheduling processes, ERP/MRP data accuracy, and production flow.
• Support lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
• Maintain accurate planning parameters, including lead times, order quantities, and production routings, in collaboration with appropriate functional teams.
• Assist with capacity planning and resource utilization analysis.

Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure production planning activities align with established quality management systems and applicable medical device manufacturing requirements.
• Coordinate with Quality to account for inspection, testing, and product release requirements in production schedules.
• Maintain accurate production planning records and support audit readiness.
• Follow company policies, procedures, and applicable ISO 13485 and FDA quality system requirements.

Qualifications

Required

• Associate's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, or related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 2-4 years of experience in production planning, scheduling, materials management, or manufacturing operations.
• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and ability to analyze production and inventory data.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes, production workflows, and inventory management principles.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and prioritization skills.
• Effective communication skills and ability to collaborate across departments.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business, or related discipline.
• Experience in medical device manufacturing or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with ISO 13485 and FDA quality system requirements.
• APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM or CSCP).
• Experience with lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience supporting high-mix, low-volume manufacturing operations.