Planner​/Buyer

Planner / Buyer

Reporting to: Assistant Plant Operations Manager

The Planner / Buyer is responsible for planning and scheduling manufacturing jobs and leading procurement activities to support production requirements. This role uses digital solutions—including an ERP system—to prioritize and maintain the production schedule, work with leadership to keep accurate timelines, and oversee the production plan informed by supply‑chain facts.

• Prioritizes and manages the daily schedule on the production floor.
• Collaborates with Operations and customers to create efficient plans to meet scheduled objectives.
• Maintains the daily production schedule using digital solutions such as an ERP system (Epicor) and MS Office applications.
• Reviews scheduled capacity and works with operations, vendors, and customers to resolve constraints.
• Interacts with all production departments to fulfill customer commitments.
• Communicates schedule improvements or delays to customers.
• Creates and distributes production job materials through the ERP system, including job routers.
• Data mines supporting documents for contract review, such as recent production runs for the same parts.
• Maintains and manages the approved supplier list.
• Quotes and procures bill‑of‑material items to support production (raw materials, tooling, outside services).
• Solicits RFQs to achieve the best price, quality, and delivery.
• Supports data collection for quoting purposes such as price and lead time for BOM items.
• Reports expected work‑order completion by day, week, month, etc.
• Analyzes standard run time against actual run time and reports findings during leadership reviews.
• Reviews work in progress and makes changes if required for specific serialized products.
• Collaborates with Operations Leadership to manage all work‑in‑progress for assigned resources.
• Ensures on‑time deliveries for all acknowledged and confirmed orders.
• Assists in offering realistic dates for new orders during the sales‑order confirmation process and contract‑review weekly meetings.
• Communicates discrepancies and potential schedule misses to leadership and customers once aligned internally.
• Supports the MRB process with appropriate responses to issues with internal and external supplier quality.
• Supports NPI launches with planning and execution of first part and production flow decisions.

• 100% customer on‑time delivery (OTD).
• 0% machine downtime caused by scheduling issues.
• Meets budget machine‑utilization hours.
• Keeps inventory control daily to prevent machine downtime due to lack of material.

• Associate’s Degree in Materials Management, Business, Marketing, or equivalent experience preferred.
• Five years of experience in supply chain, production, scheduling, and/or materials preferred.
• Ability to perform complex problem solving.
• Strong analytical, statistical, and critical‑thinking skills; experience with MS Excel and MS Word required.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and teamwork skills.
• Excellent presentation skills and ability to communicate effectively with senior management and production.
• Ability to work independently with a high level of self‑motivation and initiative.
• Knowledge of Epicor ERP preferred (or advanced knowledge of a comparable ERP system required).

• Proven leadership experience.
• Takes charge and makes difficult decisions or commitments.
• Self‑starter, self‑motivated, flexible.
• Reliable and dependable.
• Positive customer‑focused attitude.
• Enjoys a fast‑paced and rapidly changing environment.
• Honest with good integrity.
• Professional demeanor and respectful to people in all situations.
• Flexible and willing to help others as needs and tasks change often.
• Team player.

• Works in an office and/or manufacturing environment.
• May walk, bend, and lift up to 40 lbs. on a continuous basis.
• Noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.
• Must be flexible to work varying schedules and hours as needed.
• Must adhere to company safety policies.

• Competitive and based on experience.
• Flexible paid time off.
• Paid medical coverage.
• Paid short‑term and long‑term disability coverage.
• 401(k) with matching funds.