Production Planner.Cycle Counter

Job Title: Production Planner/Cycle Counter             Department: Warehouse

Reports to: Material Plan Supervisor                         Span of Control: Individual Contributor

FLSA Status:  Hourly                                                   Effective: 10/21/2024

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Production Planner/Cycle Counter is responsible for developing the master production plan to satisfy customer demand while carrying minimum effective inventory. They are accountable for providing the Plant with a daily, weekly, and monthly production plan consistent with the plant capacity and sales forecast. They maintain the production scheduling process for the Plant and collaborates with various stakeholders including operations, sales, customer service, etc. to ensure the achievement of business objectives. Oversee the cycle count program on finished good and wet chop material at both plant locations .

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build Safety Culture Through Leadership 
  • Drives expectations and seeks best practices to drive world-class safety performance
  • Insures safe, clean, and environmentally compliant work areas, assist leaders building a culture where EHS excellence is the top priority for all employees, contractors, and visitors.
  • Identifies and immediately corrects risks and hazards in the workplace
• Reviews sales forecast on an ongoing basis and suggests modifications consistent with knowledge of current or historical demand.
• Assists with creating master operations plan for designated products. Balances production capacity, sales forecast, and new business opportunities to ensure manufacturing and working capital goals are met.
• Ensures timely and accurate distribution of production schedules to plant operations, meeting or exceeding order fulfillment expectations
• Helps organize and lead monthly Sales and Operations Planning meetings that engage attendees and promotes collaboration.
• Identifies opportunities for improvement and leads actions to deliver improved processes and results.
• Performs supply & demand analysis on a regular basis, highlighting areas of concern and developing action plans to address them
• Utilizes SAP MRP to manage the production schedule and enable order fulfillment.
• Maintains MRP master data fields such as time fences, availability checks, MRP rules, safety stocks, and all required fields that drive MRP in SAP.
• Makes delivery commitments on products based on production capacity, fulfillment priorities, and planned production mix.
• Develops inventory targets and manages production to achieve targeted inventory levels on both a cost and unit basis.
• Acts as the focal point for executing the production schedule, leading cross-functional collaboration to ensure alignment across multiple functions (quality, operations, maintenance, supply chain, etc.).
• Engages with functions across the plant of minimize waste and maximize productivity.
• Provides SAP support to the plant as needed.
• Supports and contributes to plant Total Production Maintenance (TPM) initiatives.
• Maintains finished goods inventory at target levels to ensure high service levels, i.e. product availability and month-end inventory levels consistent with master operations plan.
• Coordinates and leverages internal plant stakeholders (production, sourcing, process engineering, maintenance, and warehouse) and external stakeholders (customer service, supply chain, sales) to ensure there is a balance between meeting customer needs and ensuring efficient production with minimal inventory and Slow Moving Obsolete Inventory (SMOI).
• Supports daily operations meetings to review service levels, performance against schedule, inventory strategy, supply plan to meet demand, and resource implications.
• Works closely with customer service to understand customer expectations and communicates them to operations/supply chain team as needed.
• Eliminates barriers to meeting customer request dates.
• Manages Available to Promise (ATP) inventory levels in SAP to drive order fulfillment dates, adjusting as needed with unforeseen supply chain issues or changing customer needs.
• Confers with plant personnel, vendors, or customers to coordinate production or shipping activities to resolve complaints or eliminate delays.
• Ensure all required systems and documentation are well maintained and updated frequently
• Prepare a cycle count schedule for the following 12-month period.
• Ensure record retention procedure is implemented and maintained
• Regular attendance on site and ability to rotate to varying shifts
• Able to operator forklift and material handling equipment
• Any other duties as assigned and/or required of the position

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 3-4 Years  in supply chain management, engineering, business or related field or 5 years related experience.
• Experience utilizing computer programs and Microsoft Office products.

Preferred Experience

• Production planning and inventory management.
• Experience using SAP or other Enterprise Resource Planning systems.
• SAP Reporting Tools – Business Intelligence, Power Business Intelligence.
• Solid foundation of operating in Microsoft Excel

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to safeguard self with proper PPE for the specific tasks
• Exposure to hot/cold temperature- periodically
• Exposure to noise- periodically
• Hand/Eye Coordination– continuously
• Walk, sit, stand for duration of shift with regular breaks
• Lift/carry/move up to 20 lbs. independently and heavier weights with assistance.
• Climb stairs, steps, and ladders
• Ability to work extended hours as necessary
• Able to operate computers & computerized equipment for quality, safety and compliance testing and training.
• Ability to communicate with co-workers face to face, by telephone, and electronic communications.
• Possess manual dexterity necessary to operate equipment, operate a computer, and other standard office equipment.
• Vision adequate to manipulate equipment controls, complete paperwork, utilize computers, and have depth perception.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position.  Employee(s) will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.
 
A review of this position has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties.  All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.  To perform this job successfully, the incumbents(s) will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently.  Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others.  The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and abilities.  
 
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.