Sr Production Planner

Job Title:

Senior Production Planner

Job Description

The Senior Production Planner supports a growing manufacturing operation by owning production and material planning activities for sub-assemblies, spare parts, upgrades, and customer commitments. This role builds and maintains detailed production schedules, interprets MRP outputs, manages orders within the ERP system, and ensures components are available to meet build and shipment timelines. The planner works across multiple functions to align supply and demand priorities, directly impacting delivery performance and revenue execution, while gaining exposure to complex, high-tech capital equipment manufacturing.

Responsibilities

+ Build, maintain, and optimize production schedules for sub-assemblies, spare parts, upgrades, and customer orders.

+ Interpret MRP outputs and translate planning signals into executable production and purchase orders.

+ Release, adjust, and manage production and material orders within the ERP system to support changing priorities.

+ Analyze current and upcoming demand to identify what is due, what is coming due, and where shortages or risks may affect commitment dates.

+ Monitor component availability and inventory positions to ensure on-time builds and shipments.

+ Coordinate closely with Procurement, Manufacturing, Engineering, Logistics, Sales, Customer Operations, and service-related teams to align supply and demand priorities.

+ Support aftermarket and spare parts planning to ensure sub-assemblies, kits, and materials are ready for service and field needs.

+ Plan and coordinate product upgrades and retrofits, ensuring required materials and sub-assemblies are available when needed.

+ Manage capacity planning activities to balance production loads and meet delivery commitments.

+ Support and manage Engineering Change Notices (ECNs) and related planning impacts for upgrades, retrofits, and design changes.

+ Apply lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles to enhance planning accuracy and efficiency.

+ Use advanced Excel tools, including pivot tables and VLOOKUP, to perform modeling, data analysis, and scenario planning.

+ Monitor and manage inventory levels to support customer demand while minimizing excess and obsolescence.

+ Identify and escalate planning risks, shortages, and constraints, and collaborate with stakeholders on mitigation plans.

+ Demonstrate strong ownership and leadership in planning activities, including mentoring and supporting colleagues where appropriate.

+ Ensure planning processes and documentation align with ISO 9000 and other relevant quality standards.

Essential Skills

+ 5+ years of production planning experience in a manufacturing environment.

+ Proven experience in production planning, scheduling, and Master Production Scheduling (MPS).

+ Hands-on experience with MRP and ERP-based planning, with SAP preferred.

+ Background in manufacturing supply chain planning, including coordination across procurement, production, and logistics.

+ Experience in spare parts and aftermarket planning to support service and field requirements.

+ Experience coordinating upgrades, retrofits, and engineering changes within a manufacturing environment.

+ Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to interpret complex data and planning outputs.

+ Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and modeling analysis.

+ Demonstrated ability to manage changing priorities, shortages, engineering changes, and delivery commitments.

+ Capacity planning and inventory management experience in a production environment.

+ Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles and their application to planning processes.

+ Understanding of ISO 9000 or similar quality management standards.

+ Strong leadership and ownership mindset, with the ability to influence cross-functional decisions.

+ Comfort working with distributed stakeholders and locations using digital collaboration tools.

+ Excellent communication and collaboration skills across Procurement, Logistics, Engineering, Manufacturing, Sales, Customer Support, and service-related teams.

Additional

Skills & Qualifications

+ Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.

+ APICS CPIM or similar professional certification in production and inventory management.

+ Experience supporting high-tech manufacturing or capital equipment environments is preferred.

+

Experience with Engineering Change Notice (ECN) management.

+ Mentoring or informal leadership experience within planning or supply chain teams.

+ Exposure to complex, high-mix or non-repetitive manufacturing environments.

+ Interest in growing into broader supply chain leadership or planning strategy roles.

Work Environment

This role operates in a manufacturing and office-based planning environment that directly supports production operations for complex, high-tech capital equipment. The Senior Production Planner collaborates frequently with Procurement,…