Production Planner

Our Client is a leading manufacturer of consumable precision cutting tools for industrial customers. They are looking to attract an experienced Production Planner to own production scheduling and material planning across our manufacturing operations. This role is responsible for translating demand forecasts and customer orders into achievable production schedules, ensuring material and capacity availability through disciplined use of SAP ERP and Material Requirements Planning (MRP), and driving on-time delivery in a fast-paced, high-volume parts production environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, publish, and maintain detailed production schedules across manufacturing cells/lines to meet customer demand, on-time delivery targets, and inventory objectives.
• Own and execute Material Requirements Planning (MRP) within SAP ERP, reviewing planned orders, exception messages, and net requirements to ensure timely material availability.
• Maintain accuracy of SAP planning master data, including planning parameters, lead times, lot sizes, safety stock levels, BOMs, routings, etc.
• Balance production capacity against demand forecasts and customer orders, adjusting schedules for a high-volume, high-mix precision manufacturing environment.
• Partner with Purchasing/Supply Chain to resolve material shortages, expedite critical components, and manage supplier lead times.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering and Customer Service/Sales to resolve scheduling conflicts and support new product introductions.
• Monitor work-in-process (WIP), backlog, and finished goods inventory; identify and drive inventory optimization opportunities.
• Participate in and support the Sales and Operations Planning process, providing planning input and capacity analysis.
• Track and report key planning KPIs (on-time delivery, schedule adherence, machine/labor utilization, inventory turns) to operations leadership.
• Identify, recommend, and implement continuous improvement initiatives to planning processes, systems, and data integrity (Lean/Six Sigma principles).
• Support daily production meetings and escalating schedule risks proactively.

Key Requirements:

• Minimum 5 years of production planning/scheduling experience in a high-volume parts manufacturing environment (required).
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with SAP ERP (PP and MM modules) for production planning and material management (required).
• Highly competent in Material Requirements Planning (MRP) concepts, execution, and troubleshooting (required).
• Experience in precision manufacturing, cutting tools, metalworking, or a related consumable parts industry is strongly preferred.
• Strong analytical and Excel/data analysis skills; comfortable working with large datasets and planning reports.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities and make sound decisions in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Qualification in supply chain, Business, Industrial Engineering and advantage or a related field,
• Advanced knowledge of MRP logic, demand planning, and capacity planning principles.
• SAP ERP proficiency (PP/MM modules); ability to configure and interpret planning data.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a data-driven, root-cause approach.
• Ability to read and interpret BOMs, routings, and production schedules.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• High attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.