Factory Planner

SALIX STAINLESS STEEL FABRICATIONS LIMITED

Job Description

Factory Planner, Procurement & Production Administrator

Location: Basildon, Essex
Department: Production / Operations
Reporting to: Managing Director / Production Manager
Employment Type: Full Time

About Salix

Salix Stainless Steel Fabrications Limited is a leading design and manufacturing company specialising in bespoke commercial catering kitchens, bars and foodservice equipment.

We work with high-end hotels, restaurants, hospitality groups and commercial clients, delivering projects from initial design and manufacture through to installation and commissioning.

We are looking for an organised, proactive and commercially aware individual to join our team and play a key role in coordinating factory production, procurement and project administration.

The Role

The Factory Planner, Procurement & Production Administrator will be responsible for helping to ensure that projects move efficiently from approved order through to manufacture and delivery.

The role will sit at the centre of the business, working closely with Design, Projects, Production, Purchasing, Installation and Management to ensure that materials are ordered on time, production is properly planned and information is accurate and available to the relevant teams.

The successful candidate will need to be highly organised, have excellent attention to detail and be comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where priorities can change.

Key Responsibilities

Factory Planning & Production Scheduling

• Assist with planning and scheduling factory production across multiple live projects.
• Maintain and update the factory production schedule.
• Allocate production activities according to agreed project priorities, deadlines and available resources.
• Liaise with the Production Manager and workshop teams to monitor progress.
• Identify potential production delays, resource issues or material shortages at an early stage.
• Coordinate production requirements with project delivery and installation dates.
• Ensure jobs are progressed in the correct sequence to meet required completion dates.
• Monitor outstanding factory items and ensure they are followed through to completion.
• Communicate changes to production priorities to the relevant departments.
• Help ensure that completed items are available and ready for delivery and installation.

Procurement & Purchasing

• Review project requirements and identify materials, components and equipment requiring purchase.
• Raise and process purchase orders in accordance with company procedures.
• Obtain and compare supplier quotations where required.
• Liaise with suppliers regarding pricing, availability and lead times.
• Monitor outstanding purchase orders and expected delivery dates.
• Chase suppliers where materials or equipment are overdue or at risk of affecting production.
• Maintain accurate procurement records.
• Ensure materials are ordered in sufficient time to meet production requirements.
• Work closely with the Project and Production teams to identify long-lead items.
• Check deliveries against purchase orders and report discrepancies.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with key suppliers.
• Assist management with supplier price comparisons and cost control.

Project & Production Administration

• Maintain accurate project and factory records.
• Ensure relevant project information is available to Production and Purchasing.
• Assist with the preparation and maintenance of factory files.
• Ensure approved drawings, specifications and relevant documentation are issued to the appropriate departments.
• Maintain records of revisions and ensure obsolete information is not being used for manufacture.
• Assist with project handovers from Sales/Projects into Production.
• Update internal systems and spreadsheets with project and production information.
• Track project status and highlight outstanding actions.
• Assist with delivery scheduling and coordination.
• Maintain records of completed and outstanding works.
• Provide general administrative support to the Production and Projects departments.

Communication & Coordination

• Act as a key communication point between Projects, Design, Production and Procurement.
• Attend relevant production/project meetings and record actions where required.
• Provide regular updates on production progress and procurement status.
• Escalate issues that may affect cost, programme or delivery.
• Liaise with suppliers, subcontractors and internal teams professionally.
• Ensure information is communicated clearly and promptly.

Key Skills & Experience

The ideal candidate will have:

• Previous experience in manufacturing, engineering, fabrication, construction or a similar production environment.
• Experience of production planning, purchasing, procurement or project administration.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Good understanding of manufacturing processes and production lead times.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Good IT skills, particularly Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook.
• Experience using production, purchasing or project management systems would be advantageous.
• Ability to read and understand basic drawings, specifications and schedules would be beneficial.
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of the importance of cost control.
• A proactive approach to identifying and resolving problems.

Personal Attributes

We are looking for someone who is:

• Highly organised and methodical
• Proactive rather than reactive
• Confident communicating with both suppliers and internal teams
• Comfortable working under pressure and to deadlines
• Able to prioritise and manage several projects simultaneously
• Commercially aware
• Detail focused without losing sight of the bigger picture
• A good team player
• Confident enough to challenge issues when something is not right
• Reliable and accountable
• Flexible when project priorities change
• Keen to improve processes and ways of working

Full Time Position

Monday to Friday 8am to 4.30pm

28 days holiday including bank holidays

Benefits:

• Company pension
• On-site parking

Work Location: In person