Planning Analyst I

Task Force Tips•Valparaiso, IN

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Task Force Tips, LLC. (TFT) is an established manufacturer of firefighting equipment based in Valparaiso, IN. Our continuous improvement process ensures we help first responders save lives and protect property more safely and effectively than the day before. We are searching for a Planning Analyst I to support our manufacturing operations by helping ensure the right materials and resources are available at the right time to keep production moving and customer orders on schedule. Our desired team member should be goal-driven, have integrity and grit, and have a passion for putting lifesaving equipment in the hands of our first responders. If you enjoy working with data, coordinating across teams, solving problems, and seeing your decisions have a direct impact on manufacturing operations, this could be a great opportunity for you. Our Culture is Contagious! Come grow with us and be part of the TFT Proud Culture! Be a part of saving lives and protecting property by putting life-saving products in the hands of our first responders!

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Business, or a related field; or an Associate’s degree combined with relevant work experience.
Ability to query and analyze large amounts of inventory, sales, and other operational data to make long-range forecasts of material requirements.
Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including VLOOKUP, PivotTables, Power Query, and similar functions.
Detail-oriented, professional, responsive, resourceful, flexible, and well-organized.
Strong bias for action with the ability to be self-motivated and effectively manage time and priorities.
Ability to promote positive working relationships with teammates and resolve conflicts in a constructive manner.
Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with employees throughout the organization.

Nice To Haves

1–2 years of Production Control, Planning, or Scheduling experience preferred, but not required.
Experience with data visualization tools such as Tableau or Power BI is preferred.
Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing concepts such as Kanban and Heijunka is a plus.

Responsibilities

Review, initiate, firm, and release job orders for production activities in Assembly, CNC, Anodizing, and Finishing departments, or as assigned by the Planning and Inventory Manager.
Review the shortage report each morning to proactively identify parts needed for upcoming orders in Assembly, CNC, Anodizing, and Finishing areas, and communicate with appropriate managers to help reprioritize daily schedules.
Work with Order Entry to provide custom ship dates on spike orders by referencing bills of materials to identify long lead-time items and reviewing on-hand inventory and available capacity.
Support the Supply Chain team with the review of material constraints and issuance of purchase orders to support customer demand.
Liaise with Sales, Supply Chain, and Production Managers as required to make decisions on expedites and other circumstances that may require a change in schedule.
Conduct weekly/monthly Kanban audits, replace missing cards, and retrain personnel who may be deviating from TFT’s Kanban process.
Support the Planning and Inventory Manager in determining and establishing reorder points, safety stock, fulfillment quantities, and other parameters to continuously optimize inventory levels of TFT-manufactured parts.
Support the implementation of Epicor Fulfillment and Material Flow as assigned by the Planning and Inventory Manager.
Identify opportunities for efficiency improvements in inventory flow.
Perform other related duties as assigned.