Production Planner

About the position

This role is a key driver in ensuring finished goods availability to fulfill customer demand while minimizing inventory and supply chain costs. This role will plan supply of finished goods and work in process (WIP) for the Arzignano and Molfetta facilities on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. This role will own the production schedule and will coordinate closely with Plant Operations, Customer Care, Logistics, Warehousing, and the Commercial teams to ensure alignment of expectations, execution against the plans, and gap closure tasks are being followed. The Production Planner will also support the implementation of Oracle Supply Planning Cloud and Production Scheduling Cloud in alignment with HEM’s Global Business Transformation project.

Main Responsibilities

• The role of the Production Planner and Scheduler is to develop an inventory plan for finished goods and WIP items produced at Arzignano and Molfetta based on forecasted demand, actual orders, network lead times, and available inventory
• The role will define the appropriate inventory levels and associated required capacity (for example, distribution and production) to optimize service, working capital, and costs
• This role uses standard planning processes to develop and manage the material and capacity plans, eventually using advanced tools (e.g. Oracle Supply Planning Cloud and Oracle Production Scheduling Cloud applications)
• Work with the commercial team to prioritize and manage supply when the demand exceeds the supply plan
• This role ensures all demands (internal and external) are considered when managing the demand and supply balance. Supply capabilities are monitored to ensure operations goals, customer service levels, and business objectives are met
• Support Continuous Improvement initiatives and a culture of data-driven decision making
• Maintain an accurate and up-to-date production plan and resolve any overloaded situations
• Develop inventory build plans to anticipate seasonal demand, while balancing on-time-in-full supply with working capital and warehouses costs
• Facilitate Production Planning meetings with material planners, production managers, transload planners, quality control, warehouse personnel, and others as necessary
• Own the Production Schedule. Develop and adjust Production Schedule to accommodate demand, supply, and timing
• Communicate changes to Production Supervisor and Shift Leaders for expected production commitments, coordinate actions and agreements with affected functions. (Local operations, HEM Central, 3rd party vendors)
• Analyze material availability issues. Develop, communicate, and implement solutions. Raise material availability issues urgently when cannot be solved autonomously.
• Drive outbound Service Levels by improving Production Job Due Date compliance.
• Monitor Safety Stock Inventory Targets and Forecasts. Ensure Production is planned and executed to satisfy. Analyze, recommend adjustments to inventory parameters.
• Act as back-up for Plant Buyer and train in other functions as emergency backup as directed.
• Additional responsibilities after implementation of Oracle Supply Planning and Finite Schedule solutions:
• Monitor planning master data accuracy, requesting updates when required
• Review and manage exception messages and Planned Work Orders daily within Oracle Supply Planning and Finite Scheduling Cloud

Specialized/Technical Knowledge or Required Skills

• Strong knowledge in the production process, bottlenecks, Materials Requirements Planning (MRP), production scheduling, and methods to improve productivity through planning
• Manage inventory against targets and the build and depletion of inventory as required
• Work effectively with multiple functions, including Customer Care, operations, Supply Chain, Logistics, and the commercial team
• Timely and accurate resolution of demand and supply imbalances
• Business knowledge of the customers, markets, business drivers, and products
• Knowledge in inventory planning processes, techniques, and methodologies
• Knowledge of portfolio of products they are planning
• Relationships across different parts of the organization related to the portfolio of products they are planning
• Knowledge of the relationship of master data management with Material Requirements Planning (MRP) recommendations to diagnose drivers for supply
• Support the reporting of metrics and master data management against policies, procedures, and standards

Requirements

• Minimum 3-5 years’ experience in a manufacturing environment, IBP, Demand Planning, Supply Planning, or materials management roles
• Bachelor’s or Master's Degree Engineering Management, Business, or equivalent education or work experience
• MRP implementation as a plus
• High level of integrity, ability to deal with ambiguity, and takes initiative
• Evidence of strong character with integrity, honesty, accountability, and trust
• Must possess business savvy, change agent skills, and good organizational skills
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across functional lines without formal authority to handle multiple tasks and make consequential decisions