Production Planning Associate

Misfits Market•Walnut, CA

2d•$80,000 - $85,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Production Planning Associate will be the critical link between customer demand and operational execution. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining production schedules that maximize efficiency, meet customer fulfillment targets, and minimize waste. This role requires a unique blend of technical data analysis and "shop-floor" collaboration. You must understand the mechanics of how a product is made, the constraints of food safety/sanitation, and the logistical complexities of third-party fulfillment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or a related technical field.
2–5 years of experience in a production planning or fulfillment role within a manufacturing environment.
Direct experience in Food & Beverage Manufacturing (understanding SQF, BRC, or FDA regulations) or 3PL/Contract Manufacturing is highly preferred.
Advanced proficiency in Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUPs, Data Modeling).
Hands-on experience with ERP/MRP software.
Strong understanding of "Flow" (the physical movement of goods through a plant).

Nice To Haves

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Yellow Belt (preferred).
Ability to translate complex data into actionable instructions for shop-floor personnel.
A "Technical Mindset" with the ability to troubleshoot mechanical constraints that affect the production schedule.
Comfort working in a high-pressure environment where schedules change rapidly due to client demands or supply chain disruptions.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute weekly and daily production schedules for multiple lines, balancing labor availability, machine capacity, and material readiness.
Monitor "Order-to-Ship" cycles to ensure 100% on-time fulfillment for third-party clients and retail partners.
Manage the transition between different product runs, accounting for allergen washdowns and sanitation cycles (specific to food manufacturing).
Adjust schedules in real-time to account for equipment downtime, labor shortages, or urgent "hot" orders.
Serve as the "Power User" for the ERP/MRP system (e.g., SAP, NetSuite, or Microsoft Dynamics and homegrown systems), ensuring data integrity for BOMs (Bills of Materials) and inventory levels.
Analyze historical data to identify trends in production yields and fulfillment lags, using these insights to improve scheduling accuracy.
Automate reporting for Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness), Schedule Attainment, and Scrap Rates.
Act as the primary liaison between the Engineering, Quality, and Operations teams.
Lead daily "Production Kick-off" meetings to communicate the plan to floor supervisors and troubleshoot potential bottlenecks.
Work closely with Procurement to ensure raw ingredients and packaging materials are staged and ready for production, preventing "stock-outs" that stall fulfillment.
Identify opportunities to reduce "Changeover Time" (SMED) and improve throughput using Lean methodologies.
Partner with Engineering to optimize line layouts for new product launches or packaging configurations.