Materials, Production and Logistics Planning Manager

MPI Products•Deerfield, WI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Materials, Production and Logistics Planning Manager to lead the strategic and tactical execution of material flow, production planning, inventory optimization, and logistics within our manufacturing plant. Reporting to the General Manager and serving as a member of the plant leadership team, this role will balance customer demand, supplier capacity, production requirements, and working capital goals to support strong on-time delivery. This is an excellent growth opportunity for a motivated supply chain, materials, production planning, or manufacturing professional who is ready to expand their scope. Candidates who are currently working in a role with fewer responsibilities are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will be involved in day-to-day operations while gaining meaningful exposure to broader supply chain strategy, plant leadership, customer communication, cost improvement, and long-term operational planning.

Requirements

Experience or demonstrated knowledge in materials management, production planning, inventory control, manufacturing operations, logistics, or a related area.
Ability to organize competing priorities and make timely decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to investigate root causes and implement corrective actions.
Ability to collaborate effectively with manufacturing, purchasing, suppliers, sales, customers, and leadership.
Experience working with an ERP system; experience with PLEX is preferred.
Ability to communicate clearly with internal teams, suppliers, carriers, and customers.
Interest in developing broader strategic and leadership capabilities.

Nice To Haves

This opportunity may be a strong next step for a production planner, materials coordinator, inventory specialist, buyer, logistics professional, or manufacturing team member ready to grow into a broader leadership role.
We welcome candidates who may not yet have held this full scope of responsibility but can demonstrate strong judgment, initiative, organization, and a willingness to learn.

Responsibilities

Optimize inventory levels, including safety stock, reorder points, target days on hand, and minimum order quantities, to support production needs and protect working capital.
Manage excess and obsolete inventory by developing and executing disposition plans for slow-moving or surplus parts.
Maintain inventory accuracy through cycle counts, physical inventories, discrepancy investigation, and root-cause analysis.
Monitor material availability and delivery lead times to help ensure uninterrupted production.
Use the PLEX ERP system to translate customer demand forecasts and sales orders into valid production schedules and material requirements.
Balance production capacity and workload by aligning manufacturing schedules with shop floor capacity, labor availability, and equipment constraints.
Lead daily production planning meetings and coordinate follow-up actions across manufacturing, materials, and logistics teams.
Identify potential shortages, capacity constraints, and schedule risks, then develop practical solutions to protect customer commitments.
Manage supplier delivery lead times and supplier quality metrics.
Expedite critical shortages and implement vendor recovery plans when supply chain disruptions threaten production output.
Identify opportunities to improve supplier performance, strengthen material availability, and reduce supply-related disruptions.
Lead and support a team of production planners and production shipping and receiving personnel.
Manage daily shipping operations, track inventory, and coordinate carrier pickups to support timely deliveries.
Oversee logistics management and delivery execution.
Manage customer releases and delivery communications.
Maintain customer data and sales vendor web pages as needed to support accurate order and delivery information.
Identify specific cost-reduction opportunities and take action to improve cost effectiveness.
Evaluate alternative sources and supply options where appropriate.
Use data, operational insight, and cross-functional collaboration to improve material flow, inventory performance, and delivery reliability.