Production Planner, Global Manufacturer

AkzoNobel•Waukegan, IL

10h•$78,000 - $85,000

About The Position

Coordinate short, medium, and long-term production planning activities to support customer demand, inventory optimization, and operational efficiency. Will manage production order creation and scheduling activities while ensuring alignment between Supply Chain, Production, Logistics, Customer Service, and Procurement. Will also serve as a key contributor in driving inventory management, production continuity, service performance, and continuous improvement initiatives across the designated site.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field.
3 years' experience in production planning, supply chain management, scheduling, or manufacturing operations.
Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects.
Must be able to interact across multiple departments and organizational levels with the ability to challenge and improve existing processes.
Effective analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret operational and inventory data.
Must be detail-oriented.
Proficient in Microsoft Office.
Fluent in English.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a batch manufacturing or chemical manufacturing environment preferred.
Additional experience will be considered in lieu of educational requirement.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills preferred.
Experience using material resource planning or enterprise resource planning ERP) software such as SAP.

Responsibilities

Coordinate short, medium, and long-term production planning activities across operational departments, managing and monitoring related key performance indicators (KPIs).
Create, release, and schedule process orders to support production execution and customer demand requirements.
Coordinate production priorities and communicate scheduling updates across Supply Chain, Logistics, Customer Service, Procurement, and Plant Operations.
Monitor inventory levels and proactively identify supply risks, shortages, or production constraints using enterprise resource planning (ERP) and material resource planning (MRP) tools.
Develop and maintain new materials and planning parameters in SAP according to customer requirements, safety stock targets, and demand expectations.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on process optimization, inventory reduction/levelling, scheduling efficiency, and delivery performance.
Participate in root cause analysis activities related to planning, scheduling, inventory, or service disruptions.
Support and participate in integrated business planning processes for demand analysis, production planning, and inventory management. Will partner cross-functionally to troubleshoot operational challenges and implement corrective actions.
Ensure compliance with all applicable safety standards, procedures, and Life Saving Rules. Will participate in site safety programs, audits, training, and Behavioral Based Safety initiatives. Will also intervene and escalate unsafe conditions or behaviors in alignment with AkzoNobel safety expectations.