Production Planner

Position Summary

The Production Planner is responsible for developing and managing production schedules to ensure optimal inventory levels, on-time customer deliveries, and efficient plant operations within a fast-paced food and beverage manufacturing environment. This role collaborates closely with production, procurement, warehouse, customer service, and sales teams to align demand forecasts with manufacturing capacity and material availability.

The ideal candidate will have strong analytical and organizational skills, experience in forecasting and production planning, and the ability to respond quickly to changing customer and operational requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules based on customer demand forecasts, inventory targets, and production capacity.
• Analyze sales forecasts, historical demand, and customer orders to support effective production planning and inventory management.
• Coordinate with procurement and warehouse teams to ensure raw materials and packaging materials are available to support production schedules.
• Monitor production progress and adjust schedules as needed to minimize downtime and maximize efficiency.
• Collaborate with customer service and sales teams to ensure accurate order fulfillment and on-time deliveries.
• Identify potential supply chain or production constraints and proactively communicate risks and solutions.
• Maintain accurate planning data within ERP/MRP systems.
• Support S&OP (Sales and Operations Planning) activities through reporting and demand analysis.
• Generate and analyze KPIs related to production adherence, inventory accuracy, forecast accuracy, and customer service levels.
• Assist in continuous improvement initiatives focused on planning efficiency, inventory reduction, and operational performance.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, and company standards throughout planning activities.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, Logistics, or related field preferred.

Experience

• 3 to 5 years of experience in production planning, demand forecasting, customer service, or supply chain planning within the food and beverage manufacturing industry.
• Experience working in fast-paced manufacturing environments with high SKU volumes preferred.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems for production scheduling and inventory management.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of production planning and inventory control processes.
• Experience with forecasting methodologies and demand planning.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Familiarity with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, or similar platforms.
• Understanding of supply chain operations and manufacturing workflows.
• KPI tracking and reporting experience.

Core Competencies

• Bilingual English/Spanish
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment
• Customer-oriented mindset
• Adaptability and sense of urgency

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Production schedule adherence
• Forecast accuracy
• Inventory turnover and inventory accuracy
• On-time delivery performance
• Customer service level achievement
• Material availability and stockout reduction
• Planning accuracy and efficiency

Work Environment

• Manufacturing plant environment within the food and beverage industry.
• Frequent interaction with production, warehouse, procurement, quality, and customer service teams.
• May require flexibility to support production priorities and business demands.

Preferred Qualifications

• APICS/CPIM certification is a plus.
• Experience supporting co-manufacturing or packaging operations is an advantage.