Material & Production Planner Full Time

Dudley, West Midlands
Gleeson Recruitment Group
Job Purpose:

The Materials & Production Planner is responsible for ensuring that materials and components are available to support the production schedule while optimizing inventory levels and production efficiency. The role involves balancing supply with demand, developing accurate production plans, and coordinating with procurement, warehouse, and production teams to meet customer requirements on time and in full.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Production Planning

• Develop and maintain detailed short-, medium-, and long-term production plans based on sales forecasts, customer orders, and inventory levels.
• Translate the master production schedule (MPS) into actionable daily/weekly plans for the shop floor.
• Coordinate with production supervisors to ensure capacity planning aligns with labor, machinery, and operational constraints.
• Monitor production progress and adjust plans as necessary to avoid delays or shortages.

2. Material Planning

• Create and manage materials requirement plans (MRP) to ensure timely availability of raw materials, components, and subassemblies.
• Analyze demand patterns, lead times, and safety stock levels to optimize inventory.
• Collaborate with procurement to place purchase orders and manage supplier delivery schedules.
• Track supplier performance and escalate issues that may impact material availability or production timelines.

3. Inventory Management

• Maintain accurate records of stock levels using ERP/MRP systems.
• Drive continuous improvements in stock accuracy, inventory turnover, and working capital reduction.
• Identify and address excess or obsolete inventory risks.
• Participate in physical and cycle counting activities and inventory audits.

4. Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Sales, Procurement, Production, Warehouse, and Quality teams to align supply chain activities with business objectives.
• Communicate planning constraints, material shortages, or delays to relevant stakeholders.
• Support NPI (New Product Introduction) and EOL (End-of-Life) planning by ensuring material and production readiness.

5. Data Analysis & Reporting

• Generate planning reports, KPIs, and dashboards to monitor performance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Analyze root causes of plan variances or material issues and recommend corrective actions.
• Contribute to S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning) process through capacity and material planning input.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

Essential:

• Proven experience (3+ years) in a similar role within a manufacturing or production environment.
• Strong knowledge of production planning and materials management processes.
• Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar).
• Excellent Excel skills and ability to interpret complex data sets.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

Desirable:

• Degree or qualification in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
• APICS/CPIM or other relevant professional certification.
• Experience with lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or Six Sigma principles.
• Familiarity with ISO, GMP, or other quality standards (depending on the industry).

Personal Attributes:

• Analytical mindset with a focus on problem-solving.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
• Proactive, with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Strong team player with the ability to influence across functions.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• On-time-in-full (OTIF) delivery performance.
• Inventory accuracy and turnover.
• Production schedule adherence.
• Material availability and shortages.
• Supplier delivery performance.

At Gleeson Recruitment Group, we embrace inclusivity and welcome applicants of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. We are proud to be a disability confident employer.

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