MPI Calera - Production Planner

McWane Plant & Industrial•Calera, AL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

McWane Plant and Industrial (MPI) is seeking an experienced, highly organized Production Planner to work in a rapidly evolving, high-mix/low-volume manufacturing environment. The role collaborates with diverse stakeholders and applies project management principles to initiate, plan, execute, monitor, and close planning processes. The Production Planner analyzes historical data to inform decisions and improve forecast accuracy while reducing stockouts and overproduction and maintaining high-quality standards. The position translates sales orders and forecasts into production plans using D365 MRP, balances demand with capacity and material availability, and coordinates production schedules and work orders with internal teams. It monitors production progress and performance, maintains accurate planning and order data, identifies constraints and improvement opportunities, and supports inventory management and on-time delivery. The role is based in Calera, Alabama, and directly reports to the Production Control Manager. The work may involve extended hours depending on customer and company demands. Physical activities include standing, walking, stooping, balancing, kneeling, reaching, and sitting, including prolonged computer work. The employee must wear appropriate PPE and may work in heat, cold, noise, vibration, dust, and fumes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, management, or another relevant field, or a combination of education, training, and work experience.
Minimum 3 years’ experience in inventory management, supply chain, project management, or warehouse management.
Minimum 3 years’ experience with production planning.
Proficiency with the MS Office suite.
High integrity, proficient time management, strong communication skills, and an emphasis on active listening.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Self-directed and self-motivated, with attention to detail, strong organization, and interpersonal skills.
Leadership skills.
Commitment to safe and environmentally responsible workplace practices.
Ability to work and communicate effectively in a collaborative environment.
Ability to meet and adhere to physical requirements and wear appropriate PPE, including steel-toed boots, safety glasses, and hearing protection.
Ability to tolerate exposure to heat, cold, noise, vibration, dust, and fumes.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of D365.

Responsibilities

Ensure personal safety and the safety of team members.
Partner with Sales, Engineering, and Customer Service to understand and validate make-to-order sales order demand and make-to-stock forecasted demand; develop and maintain master production schedules for both product types.
Identify production planning requirements based on customer commitments, inventory levels, and capacity constraints.
Initiate planning cycles in D365 to generate MRP outputs and align planning with business goals.
Translate sales orders and forecasts into executable production plans using D365 MRP.
Balance demand with available capacity, material availability, and lead times.
Coordinate with Purchasing to ensure timely procurement of materials based on MRP outputs.
Plan inventory levels, reorder points, safety stock, and lot sizes to support the make-to-stock strategy.
Maintain planning parameters in D365, including lead times, safety stock levels, minimum and maximum order quantities, and reorder points.
Issue daily and weekly production schedules to the Shop Superintendent or Supervisor.
Release work orders in D365 based on material availability and shop-floor capacity.
Ensure timely execution of production orders to meet customer ship dates and on-time delivery targets.
Coordinate with Quality to ensure production adheres to QMS standards and specifications.
Communicate with Shipping to support timely dispatch of completed goods.
Monitor production progress and adjust schedules in response to changes in demand, capacity, or material availability.
Track and report KPIs such as on-time delivery, backlog, and schedule adherence.
Maintain accurate, current D365 data, including work order status, ship dates, and inventory levels.
Use visual management tools, such as production and resource boards, to track daily goals and performance.
Identify and resolve production-flow bottlenecks or constraints; coordinate with other MPI locations as needed.
Ensure scrap and rework processes are properly documented and communicated in D365 and QT9.
Ensure work orders are properly closed in D365 before shipment, including RAF and Ended status.
Ensure materials and labor are allocated to work orders.
Conduct post-production analysis to identify variances and improvement opportunities.
Complete transactions for variances from issued work orders through completion.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives related to planning, scheduling, and inventory management.