Production Planner- Manufacturing

A Production Planner in an auto parts manufacturing environment plays a vital role in ensuring that parts are manufactured efficiently, on time, and meet quality standards. Heres a breakdown of the responsibilities, required skills, tools, and KPIs relevant to the role:

Key Responsibilities
Production SchedulingDevelop and maintain production schedules based on demand forecasts, customer orders, and inventory levels.Coordinate with procurement, engineering, and shop floor to ensure availability of materials and resources.Capacity PlanningAnalyze plant capacity, workforce, and equipment to plan workloads.Balance production lines to avoid bottlenecks.Inventory ManagementMonitor raw materials, WIP (work-in-progress), and finished goods inventory.Implement strategies to minimize excess inventory and stockouts.Demand ForecastingCollaborate with the sales and supply chain teams to align production with customer demand.Order ManagementTrack orders from initiation to delivery.Prioritize urgent or critical customer orders.Process OptimizationIdentify inefficiencies and recommend improvements.Coordinate lean manufacturing or Six Sigma initiatives.ReportingPrepare daily/weekly/monthly production reports.Analyze variances between planned and actual output.

Key Skills and Qualifications
Technical Knowledge: Understanding of machining, stamping, welding, and assembly processes.ERP/MRP Systems: SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, etc.Analytical Skills: Strong ability to analyze data for scheduling and forecasting.Communication: Coordination across departments and with external suppliers/customers.Problem-Solving: Quick decision-making in case of production issues.Certifications (optional):APICS CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management)PMP (Project Management Professional)Lean Six Sigma

Mandatory Key SkillsMaterials Requirement Planning,Capacity Planning,Supply Chain Coordination,Manufacturing Execution System,Inventory Control,Production Planning*,Manufacturing Planning*,Auto Parts Manufacturing*