Production Planner - Plant 4

Howmet Aerospace • Whitehall, MI

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Production Planner is located at Howmet Aerospace’s Plant 4 in Whitehall, Michigan. The role processes and manages orders for an assigned account portfolio, coordinates customer requirements with plant operations, and helps plan and adjust production schedules to support on-time delivery. The planner serves as a liaison between customers and the plant, monitoring orders and projects, addressing delays and issues, and coordinating with internal departments and suppliers.

The position also involves reviewing scheduling practices, tracking open items and purchase-order coverage, resolving contractual issues, coordinating workflow with the Master Scheduler and department supervisors, expediting delayed operations, and reconciling shipments daily. Success requires anticipating customer demand, understanding manufacturing rhythms and capacity, communicating priorities, maintaining accurate information, and coordinating resources to meet customer and plant goals.

Howmet Aerospace offers a benefits package that includes medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage; FSA and HSA options; retirement savings plans; paid holidays and vacation; parental leave and adoption assistance; life and disability coverage; optional insurance plans; tuition assistance; professional development; and an Employee Assistance Program.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility verification is required at hire, and visa sponsorship is unavailable.

Nice To Haves

• APICS Certification.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Self-starter with the ability to manage multiple projects.
• Competent use of an automated order system.
• Solid foundational knowledge of manufacturing processes and material flow.
• Strong quantitative analysis skills, including use of Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to develop and use planning strategies.

Responsibilities

• Communicate with regular and prospective customers about requirements and customer service concerns, and respond to inquiries about project status, open orders, and unresolved issues.
• Check and audit scheduling rules and work with other departments to align schedules with plant on-time delivery targets.
• Track open items, secure purchase-order coverage, and resolve contractual issues that delay customer requirements or shipments.
• Process orders for an assigned account portfolio, including order entry and maintenance, placement with outplant vendors, order review, customer acknowledgments, and resolution of items delaying manufacturing release or shipment.
• Address service-failure complaints and refer them to designated departments for investigation.
• Coordinate with the Master Scheduler to plan and schedule departmental workflow according to manufacturing sequences and lead times.
• Consult department supervisors to determine the status of assigned projects.
• Expedite operations that delay schedules and revise schedules to address unforeseen conditions.
• Reconcile shipments daily.
• Review and communicate customer demand, help prioritize and schedule work, and track schedule attainment, throughput, on-time delivery, and related outcomes.
• Act as a liaison between customers and the plant, communicate customer priorities, and coordinate internal resources to meet goals.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage, including FSA and HSA account options.
• Pre-tax and Roth 401(k) retirement savings plans with employer matching funds and a separate employer retirement contribution.
• Paid holidays and vacation time.
• Paid parental leave and adoption assistance programs.
• Life insurance and disability coverage plans.
• Optional auto, home, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance coverage.
• Tuition Assistance Program and ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time