Production Planning Specialist

Pure Power Technologies•Blythewood, SC

About The Position

The Production Planning Specialist coordinates production planning, material scheduling, and inventory management to support on-time delivery, optimize inventory levels, and improve manufacturing efficiency. The role works across Operations, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Customer Service, Engineering, and Supply Chain to create and maintain production schedules aligned with customer demand and business objectives. The ideal candidate can balance customer requirements, production capacity, material availability, and inventory in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. The position also coordinates inbound and outbound shipments, tracks delivery progress, resolves shipment exceptions, maintains planning data in ERP/MRP systems, monitors production and inventory performance, and supports S&OP and continuous improvement activities. The role is responsible for ensuring compliance with company policies, quality standards, and customer requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Working knowledge of freight modes, carrier networks, Incoterms, and shipping documentation.
At least 5 years of production planning, scheduling, materials planning, or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment.
Strong understanding of production planning, materials planning, MRP/ERP systems, capacity planning, inventory control, and manufacturing operations.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate across multiple departments.

Nice To Haves

Experience in automotive, diesel, aerospace, industrial manufacturing, or other high-volume precision manufacturing environments.
Experience with SAP, QAD, Oracle, Plex, Epicor, or similar ERP systems.
APICS CPIM or CSCP certification.
Experience supporting Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
Knowledge of demand planning, forecasting, and S&OP processes.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules based on customer demand, inventory levels, and manufacturing capacity.
Analyze customer orders, forecasts, and production requirements to create achievable manufacturing schedules.
Monitor material availability and identify shortages that could affect production or customer deliveries.
Coordinate with Purchasing and suppliers to resolve shortages and expedite critical components when needed.
Coordinate and schedule inbound and outbound shipments, including LTL, FTL, parcel, and expedited shipments.
Track shipments in transit, communicate delays proactively, and resolve exceptions with carriers, suppliers, and customers.
Coordinate with production planning, purchasing, and customer service to prioritize shipments and support on-time delivery.
Identify opportunities to reduce freight costs, consolidate inbound shipments, and improve dock and warehouse efficiency.
Use ERP/MRP systems to maintain planning parameters and ensure data accuracy.
Review and adjust production schedule priorities as customer demand or operational requirements change.
Partner with Manufacturing, Operations, Quality, and Engineering to resolve scheduling conflicts and improve production flow.
Maintain appropriate inventory levels while minimizing excess and obsolete inventory.
Track production performance and communicate schedule risks to leadership.
Support Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) activities and demand planning initiatives.
Monitor key performance indicators, including on-time delivery, schedule attainment, inventory accuracy, inventory turns, material availability, and production backlog.
Identify opportunities to improve planning processes, scheduling accuracy, and inventory performance.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on supply chain efficiency and operational excellence.
Ensure compliance with company policies, quality standards, and customer requirements.