Product Planner I - Associate

Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. What does that mean? Well, we pump peanut butter into your jar, and the oil in your car. We glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life.

This role is currently based at our Minneapolis office and will transition to our new headquarters in Dayton, MN, in 2027.

Within a manufacturing environment, forecast, plan and schedule assigned products to meet customers’ needs in the most timely and efficient manner. Meet customer service level objectives and planned inventory objectives with some assistance from other Planners or managers. Communicate with a variety of cross functional teams in factory and corporate positions. Gain experience and ownership of role through inventory management, demand planning, purchasing, and schedule execution on the shop floor.

What You Will Do at Graco

Planning

• Plan and execute the flow of externally procured materials from the supplier into the factory for assigned products ensuring inventory optimization and flow of material.
• Plan all purchased and manufactured parts utilizing the best ordering approach. EOQ, min/max, fixed days, Kanban, MRP, etc.
• Ensure accurate planning parameters are set in planning systems - GAINS, Oracle.
• Schedule manufacturing orders and ensure customer requirements are met.
• Give work direction and prioritize schedules on the shop floor.
• Communicate with customer service to align priorities to meet customer requirements.
• Keep management proactively informed of manufacturing challenges and issues (capacity, machine downtime, and fluctuations in resources).
• Manage all inventory to ensure cell objectives are met and in line with company objectives.
• Manage assigned product to meet customer service and inventory plans.
• Proactively communicate supply shortages, delivery changes, or quality issues to appropriate personnel in a timely manner.

Forecasting

• Ensure GAINS system is maintained and that all exceptions are analyzed.
• Use GAINS to create, adjust, and maintain product and component forecast to drive the Oracle planning system while analyzing supply and demand.
• Communicate with marketing to refine and improve data to accurately forecast product

Reporting

• Report on areas such as inventory and service levels.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What You Will Bring to Graco

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, or related field is preferred or 4+ years of proven planning experience working in manufacturing and/or distribution environment.
• Registered and working towards APICS CPIM certification if Bachelor’s degree is not in Logistics and Supply Chain Planning field
• Knowledge of Supply Chain and lean manufacturing concepts, practices, and procedures.

No Degree

• Plan in place to enroll in Operations Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, or related field and willing to complete Bachelor’s degree

Accelerators

• MRP/ERP system knowledge
• Competent PC skills.
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Oracle Experience

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This role is not eligible for immigration sponsorship now or in the future (e.g., H-1B, TN, F-1 OPT).

At Graco, you truly make a difference. Your unique talents contribute to our organizational growth and future. Not only do you make a difference, but Graco’s culture empowers employees to create their own career path. Whether you choose to advance within your current department or explore new opportunities in different divisions, you have the ability to build your future. Our managers are here to provide support and guidance as you continue to grow within your career.

Graco has excellent opportunities available to individuals who want to be part of a fast-moving, growing company that is committed to quality, innovation and solving fluid handling problems for our customers. Graco is proud to be named a Best Place to Work by Fortune Magazine in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022. Graco offers attractive compensation, benefits and career development opportunities. Graco’s comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, stock purchase plan, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more.

Our company uses E-Verify to confirm the employment and eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

The base pay range for this position is listed below, exclusive of fringe benefits or other compensation. If you are hired, your final base hourly rate will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, competencies, education, and/or experience. In addition to those factors, we will also consider internal equity of our current employees. Please keep in mind that the range provided is the full base salary range for the role. Hiring at or near the maximum of the range would not be typical to allow for future and continued salary growth.