NPI Production Planner II

NPI Production Planner II is responsible for all required activities necessary to have a successful first production build prior to project launch. Candidate performs cost analysis based on proposed product configuration and manufacturing process. Works with both the process development team to obtain product BOM and the supply chain team to ensure material availability at the scheduled build dates. Candidate will identify any scrap and/or excess supply both pre-launch and post-launch based on forecast/actual sales.

Will execute a post-launch review of forecast performance.

The NPI Production Planner is also responsible for the timely execution of MRP in the SAP environment, will identify and maintain mid- and long‑term production plans that serve as the foundation for raw material, staffing, equipment, capital, and outsourcing plans. Daily/Weekly the candidate establishes and maintains finite production schedules as required by MRP/ERP, maintains an optimal workflow for production facility, monitoring daily exceptions, analyzing data, and resolving routine and non‑routine issues.

Candidate analyzes inventory movement/trends for optimum utilization, identifies safety stocks, optimum batch size, processes capacity & efficiency, analyzes and dispositions excess and obsolete materials, uses/develops reports and tools that could improve production workflow and generates data or runs standard materials reports, summarizes and communicates conclusions generated from these reports, and recommends improvements. Collaborates with cross functional teams in a global, multi-tiered matrix organization.

• Perform all required NPI activities needed to support product launch, to include product cost analysis, incorporating manufacturing processes, product BOM development and ensuring material availability at the scheduled build dates.
• Identify and maintain mid- and long‑term production plans for raw material, semi-finished and finished goods in MRP. Utilize forecasts, direction from Global Supply Planning and understanding of supply and plant constraints to optimize plans. Review plans & schedules in the rough‑cut capacity stage and respond in advance to demand greater than available capacity and level load time as needed.
• Understand plant capacities and constraints with the ability to articulate related insights to cross functional stakeholders. Accurately maintain the appropriate planning parameters for capacity, resources, work centers, and shop calendar to generate scheduling recommendations.
• Establish and maintain production schedules ensuring work orders are sequenced to meet on-time delivery using input from plant functions and by evaluating scheduling alternatives to determine options and preferred solutions.
• Proactively monitor potential conflicts and rectify bottleneck areas that may cause delays and promptly respond to demand and operational changes to support customer deliveries. Escalate unresolved issues as appropriate.
• Generate weekly and monthly scheduling related metrics and reporting to measure performance to plan. Summarize and communicate conclusions generated from these reports and recommend improvements.
• Manage product lifecycle projects for new, existing, and discontinuing products to ensure product availability and to minimize scrap via communications on status and issues with Production, Procurement, Supply Planning, Engineering, R&D, QC, and Division Marketing.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Business, Product Supply Management or related discipline.
• Work Experience:
  
  3‑5 years related experience in planning and scheduling in a LEAN Manufacturing environment.
• Experienced working with an ERP system. SAP experience is a plus.
• Strong computer skills with working knowledge in Microsoft Windows Office suite.
• Thorough understanding of Routings and Bills of Material. APICS CPIM certification a plus.

This position must be based in Hercules, CA and requires the employee to be located within commuting distance of the office.

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