Production Planner

Production Planner

Location: Northern New Jersey (On-site)

Industry: Aerospace / Defense Manufacturing

A well-established precision manufacturer in the aerospace and defense sector is seeking a Production Planner to ensure operations run smoothly and efficiently. You will develop, monitor, and adjust production schedules in alignment with customer orders, forecasts, and material availability. You will liaise with purchasing, engineering, quality, and production teams to anticipate constraints, respond to changes, and maintain on‑time delivery performance.

This role demands analytical thinking, process awareness, strong communication, and the ability to balance multiple priorities in a manufacturing environment.

• Create and maintain the Master Production Schedule (MPS) based on demand (customer orders + forecasts) and inventory levels
• Translate the MPS into detailed production orders / job releases within the ERP/MRP system
• Coordinate with Materials / Purchasing to ensure raw materials, components, and tooling are available to meet the production plan
• Continuously monitor Work‑In‑Process (WIP), downstream operations, and resource constraints
• Proactively adjust schedules to accommodate machine downtime, urgent orders, quality rework, or material shortages
• Collaborate with engineering / tooling / quality to manage changeovers, revisions, and reworked parts
• Track and report production metrics: on‑time delivery, throughput, yield, backlog, schedule adherence, etc.
• Identify process bottlenecks or waste, propose and implement continuous improvement initiatives
• Participate in cross‑functional meetings (S&OP, weekly reviews, capacity planning, demand review)
• Communicate schedule changes, risks, and status updates to sales, customer service, and production teams
• Ensure planning and production documentation (processes, instructions, change logs) are accurate and up‑to‑date

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain / Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 5+ years (or more) in production planning, scheduling, or operations within a manufacturing setting
• Strong proficiency in ERP / MRP systems –
  Epicor strongly preferred
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making abilities
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
• Effective verbal & written communication skills; ability to interface across functions and levels
• Ability to manage changing priorities, multi‑task, and thrive under pressure
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, continuous improvement methods, and quality systems
• Experience in metal manufacturing, casting, machining, or high‑precision environments is strongly preferred
• Ability to work on‑site, occasionally with extended hours or weekend support

• Certification(s) such as CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent in supply chain / production planning
• Experience in aerospace or high‑precision parts manufacturing
• Lean / Six Sigma training or certification
• Exposure to demand‑forecasting / statistical analysis tools
• Experience working in regulated or certified (e.g. AS9100, ISO
  9001) environments

• Occasional overtime or weekend availability may be required to support deadlines or production demands
• Frequent interaction with shop floor, QA/QC, engineering, and warehouse personnel
• Use of computer systems, planning software, spreadsheets, and production data
• Departmental collaboration across operations, sales, and support teams

• Schedule adherence / deviations
• Inventory turns and accuracy / stockouts
• Production throughput / efficiency
• Frequency and impact of unplanned changes or disruptions
• Improvement project outcomes (waste reduction, lead‑time reduction, bottleneck elimination)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Paid time off and holidays

Seniority level: Not Applicable

Employment type: Full‑time

Job function: Production, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing

Industries: Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing, Defense and Space Manufacturing, Manufacturing