Production Planner
- Location: Colchester
- Job Type: Temp to Perm, Full-Time
- Pay Rate: £35,000 equivalent
We are seeking a dedicated Production Planner to join our team. This role is crucial for planning and scheduling production activities within one of the three assigned areas: Manufacturing, Assembly, or Non-Standard Planning. The successful candidate will ensure that production schedules are created and executed effectively, balancing production planning with logistics oversight.
Day-to-day of the role:
- Develop and Maintain Production Schedules: Create and manage detailed schedules for assigned areas to ensure timely and efficient production.
- Coordinate with Production Teams: Work closely with production teams to communicate schedules, address issues, and ensure adherence to the plan.
- Monitor Production Progress: Track the execution of the production schedule, identify any deviations, and implement corrective actions as needed.
- Balance Workload and Capacity: Ensure that the assigned production areas are optimized in terms of labour, equipment, and capacity to meet production goals.
- Collaborate with Supply Chain: Liaise with other areas of the supply chain to confirm material availability and align production plans with incoming supplies.
- Resolve Production Issues: Proactively identify and troubleshoot any issues impacting the production schedule, such as machine breakdowns or material shortages.
- Analyse Production Data: Continuously review production metrics to evaluate performance, identify areas for improvement, communicate and implement necessary adjustments.
- Implement Process Improvements: Work on continuous improvement initiatives to enhance production efficiency and reduce lead times.
- Maintain Accurate Records: Document changes to the production schedule, updates to plans, and results of any adjustments made with regular report out.
- Communicate with Other Departments: Ensure effective communication with logistics, quality control, and engineering teams to keep production aligned with overall business goals.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
- Strong background in production planning or scheduling within a manufacturing environment, with the ability to create and manage production schedules effectively.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with production teams, supply chain, and other departments to ensure schedule adherence.
- Capable of identifying production issues, analysing root causes, and implementing corrective actions to maintain smooth operations.
- Advanced experience using MRP/ERP systems for planning, scheduling, and tracking production and logistics activities.
- High level of precision in managing schedules, tracking production data, and documenting changes.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritise effectively, and meet deadlines.
- Understanding of how inventory levels affect production schedules and the ability to coordinate with supply chain teams.
- Ability to adjust plans and strategies in response to changing production needs or unexpected challenges.
- Understanding of lean practices to help identify waste and improve production processes.
- Competence in using Excel and other Microsoft Office tools for data analysis, reporting, and schedule management.
Benefits:
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
- Opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Dynamic and supportive work environment.