Production Planner/Buyer

Prince Industries • Brattleboro, VT

4d

About The Position

The Production Planner/Buyer plans, schedules, and coordinates manufacturing activities to support on-time delivery, appropriate inventory levels, and efficient use of plant resources. The role connects Customer Service, Engineering, Production, Purchasing, and Shipping to meet customer requirements and improve operational efficiency. The position develops production schedules, manages material requirements, procures raw materials and outside services, monitors inventory, and communicates order status and delivery commitments. It requires analytical, detail-oriented work in an ERP/MRP environment; Epicor ERP experience is strongly preferred.

Prince Industries is a global manufacturing partner founded in 1959, with seven facilities across the U.S. and China. The company serves industries including hydraulics and aerospace and is certified to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485, and AS9100 standards.

The role requires 3–5 years of relevant experience in a manufacturing environment. An associate degree in a related field is preferred, though equivalent education and relevant manufacturing experience may be considered. Compensation is $75,000–$85,000 annually, based on experience. Only U.S. persons, as defined in the posting, are eligible due to ITAR regulations.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of experience in production planning, scheduling, purchasing, materials management, or supply chain roles in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems.
• Strong knowledge of production planning and scheduling methodologies.
• Understanding of MRP, inventory management, and supply chain fundamentals.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate with operations, engineering, quality, customer service, and suppliers.
• Data-driven decision-making mindset.
• Ability to manage changing priorities and customer demands.
• Eligibility as a U.S. person under the definition in the posting: U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder), or U.S. national, due to ITAR regulations.

Nice To Haves

• Associate degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent education and relevant manufacturing experience may be considered.
• Experience in a high-mix, low-to-medium volume manufacturing environment.
• Epicor ERP experience.
• Experience managing suppliers and purchase orders.
• APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM or CSCP).
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing principles.
• Experience in precision machining, metal fabrication, aerospace, industrial manufacturing, or other high-mix manufacturing environments.
• Advanced reporting and data analysis experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and execute production schedules for manufacturing departments.
• Analyze customer demand, capacity, lead times, and material availability to establish production priorities.
• Monitor production performance and adjust schedules to meet customer commitments and changing priorities.
• Coordinate with Production Supervisors to support efficient workflow and resource utilization.
• Identify production bottlenecks and recommend corrective actions to maintain on-time delivery.
• Expedite critical orders and resolve scheduling conflicts.
• Use ERP/MRP tools to plan material requirements and support production schedules.
• Monitor inventory levels, maintain appropriate stock quantities, and minimize excess inventory.
• Analyze inventory usage, lead times, safety stock levels, and forecast requirements.
• Investigate and resolve inventory discrepancies and material shortages.
• Support cycle counting and inventory accuracy initiatives.
• Procure raw materials, components, consumables, and outside processing services required for production.
• Create and manage purchase orders in the ERP system.
• Monitor supplier quality, delivery, and responsiveness; coordinate with suppliers to expedite deliveries and resolve shortages or disruptions.
• Maintain accurate supplier records, pricing, and lead-time information.
• Review customer orders and determine achievable delivery dates based on capacity and material availability.
• Communicate order status, scheduling constraints, and revised delivery dates to Customer Service and management.
• Collaborate with Customer Service to prioritize orders based on customer needs and business objectives.
• Maintain accurate planning, inventory, and purchasing data in the ERP system, including current BOMs, lead times, routing information, and planning parameters.
• Generate and distribute weekly production, delivery, inventory, and purchasing reports.
• Analyze KPIs and recommend process improvements.
• Participate in improvements to production planning, inventory control, purchasing, and operational efficiency.
• Identify opportunities to improve scheduling accuracy, inventory turns, lead times, and on-time delivery.
• Support implementation and optimization of ERP/MRP processes.

Benefits

• Paid vacation and holidays
• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Short- and long-term disability plans
• 401(k) retirement plan with strong employer match
• Company-paid life insurance and AD&D
• Partial tuition reimbursement for job-related classes
• PPE reimbursement
• Relocation assistance information is linked in the posting; eligibility or terms are not specified.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree