Material Planning Jobs in Decatur, AL (NOW HIRING)

The Production Controller plans, coordinates, and manages the flow of internal and external production processes to ensure on-time delivery and adherence to quality standards in a manufacturing environment. This role serves as a key interface between Program Management, Engineering, Procurement, and Manufacturing, aligning production schedules with project milestones and customer requirements while supporting continuous improvement and compliance activities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain detailed production plans, work orders, and demand plans within SAP for assigned projects.
• Create and manage Material Masters, Bills of Material (BOMs), and Routings in SAP to support accurate production planning.
• Monitor and adjust production schedules to accommodate changes in demand, engineering updates, and resource availability.
• Define, prioritize, and implement the flow of internal and external production processes through the creation and issuance of shop travelers.
• Coordinate workflow prioritization with Integrated Product Team (IPT) leads and IPT Planners to meet critical deadlines.
• Control factory implementation and cut-in of engineering and process changes, ensuring minimal disruption to production.
• Act as a liaison between Procurement, Production, Engineering, Planning, buyers, warehouse, and other cross-functional teams to resolve daily operational issues.
• Support Integrated Product Teams by providing accurate production status updates and risk mitigation strategies.
• Participate in program reviews and contribute to schedule risk assessments and recovery plans.
• Prepare and maintain Standard Assembly Procedures manuals and ensure compliance with established quality standards.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize production flow, reduce lead times, and improve overall efficiency.
• Maintain accurate documentation and audit readiness to meet internal and external compliance requirements, including relevant regulations.
• Manage work orders from initiation through completion, ensuring proper tracking and closure.
• Oversee non-conformances (NC), including documentation, follow-up, and coordination of corrective actions.
• Build and manage production schedules, including starts and finishes, to support end-to-end production for assigned products such as heat shields.
• Coordinate subcontractor builds and ensure alignment with internal production plans and quality expectations.
• Perform troubleshooting related to inventory, shortages, and production constraints, including root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Support special projects, cost reduction initiatives, and process improvement activities as assigned.
• Apply strategic thinking to align production plans with program objectives and delivery commitments.
• Demonstrate leadership in cross-functional and IPT environments to drive alignment and execution on production priorities.

• Experience in production support, production control, planning, or program coordination roles within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong proficiency in SAP, particularly production planning and materials management modules.
• Ability to interpret Bills of Material (BOMs), engineering drawings, and understand factory flow.
• Advanced skills in the Microsoft Office Suite, including strong Excel capabilities such as pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, conditional formatting, and data management.
• Experience with ERP systems and ERP software for production planning, inventory control, and work order management.
• Proficiency in inventory control, inventory management, and material planning.
• Hands-on experience with production planning, production scheduling, and build support from start to finish.
• Ability to manage work orders, production starts and finishes, and coordinate subcontractor builds.
• Strong troubleshooting skills for inventory issues, shortages, and production bottlenecks.
• Ability to read and work from engineering drawings and technical documentation.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to multi-task and manage competing priorities under pressure.
• Strong communication skills to interact effectively with cross-functional teams including Engineering, Production, Procurement, Planning, and Warehouse.
• High attention to detail and accuracy in documentation, data entry, and production records.
• Proactive, reliable, and collaborative team player with a strong work ethic.
• Strategic thinking capability to align production plans with program objectives and customer requirements.
• Leadership abilities in cross-functional environments and Integrated Product Team (IPT) settings.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on efficiency, quality, and process optimization.
• Understanding of ITAR/EAR regulations and compliance requirements related to production and documentation.

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business, or a related field is beneficial, though extensive relevant experience may be considered in place of formal education.
• APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) certification is preferred.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles or Six Sigma certification is a plus.
• Familiarity with composite materials and associated manufacturing processes is advantageous.
• Experience with Microsoft Project for schedule management is a nice-to-have.
• Experience using SAP for production planning and materials management is highly valued.
• Experience preparing and maintaining Standard Assembly Procedures and other production documentation.
• Ability to support program reviews, schedule risk assessments, and recovery planning activities.
• Demonstrated ability to drive cost reduction and process improvement initiatives.
• Comfort working with databases and SharePoint for data management and collaboration.
• Detail-oriented approach to Excel data entry and ERP data maintenance.

This role operates in an onsite manufacturing environment with close collaboration across Engineering, Production, Procurement, Planning, buyers, and warehouse teams. The Production Controller works primarily with ERP systems such as SAP, Microsoft Office (especially Excel), databases, SharePoint, and tools like Microsoft Project to manage production plans and schedules. Day-to-day work involves managing work orders, overseeing non-conformances, building and maintaining production schedules, coordinating production starts and finishes, and supporting end-to-end production activities, including subcontractor builds. The environment is fast-paced and deadline-driven, requiring effective coordination across cross-functional teams and adherence to quality and regulatory standards. Typical work is performed during standard daytime hours in a shop and office setting, with attire appropriate for a professional manufacturing and production facility.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Trinity, AL.

The pay range for this position is $37.00 - $45.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Trinity,AL.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 23, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.