Production Planner

James Hardie•Chicago, IL

14d•Onsite

About The Position

James Hardie is the industry leader in exterior home and outdoor living solutions, with a portfolio that includes fiber cement, fiber gypsum, composite and PVC decking and railing products. Our family of trusted brands includes Hardie®, TimberTech®, AZEK® Exteriors, Versatex®, fermacell®, and StruXure®. With over 8,000 employees and our U.S. operating entities headquartered in Chicago, we boast 31 operating sites, 6 recycling facilities, and 6 research and development centers globally. Powered by a dynamic workforce, we’re united by our purpose of Building a Better Future for All™ through sustainable innovation, a Zero Harm culture, and a commitment to empowering our people and communities. For more information, visit www.jameshardie.com . Summary Position Summary: The ColorPlus Planner is accountable for daily detailed scheduling and production plans for single/multiple manufacturing facilities using SAP’s Advanced Planning Optimization (APO) system. The ColorPlus Planner delivers a high level of service of assigned production plants and transfer lanes with the lowest landed cost planning solution for all products made at each plant location. In addition to the C+ planning responsibilities. The incumbent plays a key role between customer service, manufacturing, and transportation by ensuring an effective flow of communication regarding product availability, execution of lowest landed cost planning and minimization of inefficient freight. The incumbent reports to the Logistics Manager.

Requirements

Demonstrated ability to identify and understand issues or problems using data and use effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing an appropriate solution.
Demonstrated advanced analytical skills with the various features of spreadsheet and basic software (Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Internet, and other proprietary software).
Knowledge of production planning best practice methodologies for multiple manufacturing facilities.
Ability to collaborate effectively with plant personnel to develop action plans in reaction to product/production issues while still ensuring a high-level of customer service.
Knowledge of supply chain, transportation, and logistics.
Ability to drive adherence to planning best practices and procedures.
Superior interpersonal and written/oral communication skills with the ability to relate well and cooperate with others to effectively.
Demonstrated ability to build strategic working relationships while holding others and self-accountable for deliverables.
Demonstrated ability to act independently upon information and make decisions that achieve optimal results.
Ability to successfully manage multiple tasks and prioritize workload while paying attention to detail.
Demonstrated ability to function as a strong team player.
Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Science, Operations, Engineering, or related field.
2 or more years of experience in an analytical position.
Direct supply chain experience.

Nice To Haves

1 year of planning experience (preferred).
SAP/APO planning experience (preferred).
Material Replenishment Program (MRP), deployment, Constrained Production Planning (CPP) and/or replenishment solutions experience (preferred).

Responsibilities

Provides detailed scheduling production plans for single/multiple manufacturing facilities using an APO planning platform: (50%) Providing timely delivery of daily production plans while adhering to planning best practice methodology. Understanding and incorporating manufacturing constraints in scheduling rules in order to maximize resource efficiency and minimize inventory stock-outs. Providing proactive communication with key plant personnel to ensure adherence to schedule and processes. Collaborating with plant personnel to develop plan of action for shortages including scheduled and unscheduled downtime to ensure high customer service.
Executes inter-plant transfer strategies to enable high service of non-make items and recognizes capacity constraints within manufacturing facilities to maintain high service at lowest landed cost: (30%) Executing of inter-plant transfers, rail replenishments and order movements to maximize customer service while minimizing freight expenses. Manages all planning tools including master data to execute effective planning resulting in timely service and reduce/avoid excess and obsolete inventory. Monitors material availability and outbound inter-plant transfer service while managing truck building/rearranging process of inter-plant transfers to support actual customer order service goals.
Ad hoc projects and tasks will arise that require attention, drawn from sources ranges from manufacturing/planning issues to company initiatives related to our C+ business (20%) Manages make and transfer master data for each production facility to help facilitate both short term production and long term demand supply matching exercises. Works closely with finance, measures excess and obsolete inventory and develops action plans to reduce inefficient inventory with both proactive and reactive processes.