Sr. Production Planner

Knowles Corporation•Town of Cazenovia, NY

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Production Planner is responsible for leading production planning and scheduling activities to ensure efficient manufacturing operations, optimal inventory levels, and on-time customer delivery. This role develops and executes production plans based on demand forecasts, customer orders, capacity constraints, and material availability while driving continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain. The Senior Production Planner serves as a key liaison between operations, procurement, inventory management, sales, and leadership teams and may provide guidance and mentorship to junior planners.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience managing complex production environments with multiple product lines and capacity constraints.
Advanced experience with ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or similar platforms.
Strong expertise in production planning, scheduling, capacity planning, and inventory management.
Advanced analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and supply chain operations.
Excellent communication, presentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including data analysis, forecasting, and reporting.
Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy and efficiency.
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
5–10 years of experience in production planning, manufacturing scheduling, supply chain planning, or operations management.

Nice To Haves

APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM or CSCP) preferred.
Experience with Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules based on customer orders, forecasts, inventory levels, and production capacity.
Monitor production progress and adjust schedules as needed to address delays, equipment downtime, material shortages, or changing customer requirements.
Coordinate with procurement and supply chain teams to ensure timely availability of raw materials and components.
Analyze inventory levels and recommend production adjustments to minimize excess inventory and stock shortages.
Work closely with manufacturing supervisors to optimize labor utilization and machine capacity.
Review customer demand forecasts and collaborate with sales and operations teams to align production plans with business objectives.
Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as schedule adherence, on-time delivery, inventory turnover, and production efficiency.
Identify and implement process improvements to enhance planning accuracy and operational performance.
Develop and maintain short-term and long-term production plans to meet customer demand while optimizing manufacturing capacity and inventory investment.
Lead production scheduling activities and adjust plans proactively to address changing priorities, supply constraints, equipment downtime, and demand fluctuations.
Analyze forecast accuracy, production performance, and demand trends to improve planning effectiveness.
Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to improve planning processes, system utilization, and operational efficiency.
Mentor and support Production Planners and other planning team members through training, coaching, and best-practice development.
Participate in ERP/MRP system enhancements, planning tool implementations, and process optimization projects.
Ability to perform AS9100 Audits supporting the Quality Area.
Performs other duties as assigned.