Production Planner

Job Title:
Production Planner
Location:
Gloucester
Pay Range: £30,000 - £35,000
Contract Type:
Permanent

A growing manufacturing business is looking for an experienced Production Planner to take ownership of the day-to-day planning and coordination of production activities. Reporting directly to the Operations Manager, this is a hands‑on role where you'll work closely with Production, Purchasing, Sales, Quality and Dispatch to ensure work flows efficiently through the factory and customer requirements are consistently achieved. This is not a role where you'll be sat away from operations simply moving dates around a system.

You'll be actively involved with production teams, balancing customer demand against available capacity and making practical decisions to keep manufacturing on track.

• Create and maintain detailed production schedules.
• Review sales orders and stock agreement requirements.
• Create production and subcontract orders within the company database.
• Plan material picking, CNC machining, fabrication, assembly and packing activities.
• Balance customer requirements against machine and labour capacity.
• Monitor production progress and adjust schedules as priorities change.
• Identify potential delays before they impact delivery performance.

• Work closely with Production Team Leaders and operators to ensure production targets are achieved.
• Liaise with Purchasing to ensure materials are available when required.
• Coordinate subcontract operations and external suppliers where necessary.
• Maintain accurate planning information within company systems.
• Communicate realistic delivery dates and schedule changes to relevant departments.
• Support the smooth flow of work throughout the manufacturing process.

• Support improvements to production planning processes and efficiencies.
• Assist with longer‑term capacity and resource planning.
• Identify recurring planning issues and recommend practical solutions.
• Contribute to ongoing operational and manufacturing improvements.

• Previous experience in Production Planning, Production Scheduling or Manufacturing Coordination.
• Experience using MRP and/or ERP systems.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations and capacity planning.
• Experience with in CNC machining, fabrication, engineering or a similar manufacturing environment would be advantageous.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Strong problem-solving ability and commercial awareness.
• Confident decision-maker able to work in a fast-moving environment
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel and production planning systems.
• Strong communication skills, able to engage with both office and shop‑floor personnel.
• Ability to remain calm and organised under pressure.
• Solutions-focused mindset with a proactive approach to challenges.

• Strong understanding of manufacturing.
• A planner who can walk onto the factory floor, understand what's happening and make practical planning decisions.
• An individual who can adapt quickly when priorities change.
• A strong communicator who can build relationships across all departments.
• Someone who takes ownership and follows tasks through to completion.
• A team player who thrives in a collaborative manufacturing environment.

• 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays
• Additional Birthday Holiday
• Monthly Team Lunches
• Staff Social Events Throughout the Year
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Ongoing Development of Employee Benefitsi>
• Opportunity to Take Ownership of the Planning Function
• Influence Production Priorities and Factory Performance
• Work Closely with All Areas of the Business
• Opportunity to Improve Planning Processes and Systems
• Career Development Within a Growing Manufacturing Organisation