Production Planner

About Orchid

Orchid’s Arab site in northern Alabama was established in 2007 and joined the Orchid team in 2012. The 70,000 square-foot facility employs approximately 200 team members and focuses primarily on advanced machining of complex instruments for the large joint, spine and trauma markets, producing instruments, implants, and trials.

The Planner/Scheduler is responsible for determining what and when products are produced, tracking production numbers, and anticipating problems that could affect the production schedule and timely delivery of products to our customers. The Planner/Scheduler also ensures all aspects of customer order management—including entering and scheduling orders, maintaining Kanban and finished‑goods inventory levels, and interacting with the production team to ensure the schedule is followed—are accurate.

• Develops and manages orderly executable detailed manufacturing and purchasing plans in support of customer orders.
• Delivers, manages, and maintains viable production plans/schedules to the shop floor.
• Works with outside processors or purchasing to ensure schedules are met.
• Opens and releases manufacturing job orders to the shop floor.
• Reviews and edits orders for price, nomenclature, special shipping, and/or packaging labeling requirements.
• Determines purchased component delivery schedules using pull systems, MRP or other appropriate techniques.
• Maintains due dates of open shop orders.
• Reconciles component shortages; communicates material shortages to purchasing and assists in identifying and resolving production problems.
• Redefines manufacturing schedule when changes are required.
• Manages engineering changes relating to manufacturing plans.
• Works closely with appropriate individuals to identify and resolve potential issues which may negatively impact production or delivery timeliness.
• Maintains data integrity in ERP and other information tracking programs.
• Identifies product and system flow improvements to eliminate waste.
• Works closely with purchasing to verify delivery and terms of order with suppliers.
• Communicates priorities for processing workflow among departments to ensure timely performance to goals.
• Participates in departmental projects, meetings, and reporting and analysis of data reported.
• Leads and provides direction to customer service/order entry personnel.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Experience:
  
  Planning work in a complex manufacturing facility (required).
• Experience:
  
  Planning work based on machine capacity/throughput (required).
• Experience:
  
  Working closely with manufacturing operations management and collaborating with different levels of the business (required).
• Experience:
  
  Utilizing Microsoft Excel to analyze data (required).
• Experience:
  
  Demand and supply planning processes (preferred).
• Experience:
  
  Managing OTIF (preferred).
• Experience:
  
  One or more years in supply chain, purchasing, or sourcing (preferred).
• Experience:
  
  One or more years in production planning or scheduling (preferred).
• Experience:
  
  Using ERP software (preferred).
• License:
  Certified in Integrated Resource Management (CIRM) – The Association for Operations Management (APICS) (preferred).

• Manufacturing Industry – Working Experience
• Customer Communication – Working Experience
• Time Management – Working Experience
• Interpersonal Communication – Basic Knowledge
• Decision Making and Critical Thinking – Basic Knowledge
• Manufacturing Regulatory Environment – Working Experience
• Computer Knowledge – Working Experience
• Lean Manufacturing – Basic Knowledge
• Flexibility & Adaptability – Working Experience
• Problem Solving – Basic Knowledge
• Data Entry – Working Experience
• Manufacturing Process – Working Experience
• Organization – Working Experience

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position (occasionally).
  Must be able to move about the building (occasionally).
  Must be able to move equipment around inside the building (rarely).
  Must be able to ascend/descend stairs or ladders (rarely).
  Must be able to position oneself and move under/around/over equipment (rarely).
  Must be able to handle, adjust, inspect, position various items and equipment…