Weekend Machine Shop Lead Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Operations Planner & Buyer

Who We Are

Pioneer Service, established in 1990, is an ITAR-registered precision contract manufacturer specializing in Swiss CNC machining. We are AS9100D, ISO 9001, and ISO 13485 certified and manufacture tight-tolerance components for aerospace, medical, electric vehicle, and industrial customers.

As a WBENC-certified woman-owned business, Pioneer Service is committed to quality, reliability, responsive customer service, and on-time delivery.

Position Summary

The Operations Planner & Buyer is responsible for keeping production moving and customer orders on schedule.

This position manages production planning, purchasing, material availability, outside processing, inventory, and work-order accuracy within Global Shop Solutions (GSS). The Planner & Buyer works closely with Production, Engineering, Quality, Customer Service, Sales, and suppliers to identify shortages, capacity constraints, and scheduling conflicts before they affect production or customer delivery.

The right person for this role understands a machine-shop environment, is comfortable working directly with production, and uses ERP data to make practical decisions in a fast-moving manufacturing operation.

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning & Scheduling

• Develop and maintain production schedules based on customer due dates, production capacity, material availability, tooling, outside processing, and current shop priorities.
• Create, release, maintain, and prioritize work orders within Global Shop Solutions.
• Monitor work-in-process and work-order progress from release through completion.
• Review customer requirements, open orders, overdue jobs, shortages, and production priorities daily.
• Identify scheduling conflicts, bottlenecks, material shortages, and other risks before they affect customer deliveries.
• Adjust schedules as priorities, machine availability, material availability, or customer requirements change.
• Coordinate production priorities and ship dates with Production, Customer Service, Engineering, Quality, and Sales.
• Review production routers and planning information for accuracy and communicate discrepancies for correction.
• Monitor work-center loading and capacity when developing and adjusting production schedules.
• Communicate schedule changes, shortages, and delivery risks promptly to the appropriate team members.

Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Purchase raw material and other production-related items required to support manufacturing.
• Issue and manage purchase orders and maintain accurate supplier commitments within the ERP system.
• Coordinate outside processing and subcontracted operations.
• Follow open purchase orders and supplier delivery commitments and expedite when necessary.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times and purchasing terms when appropriate.
• Identify alternate suppliers and sourcing opportunities to improve cost, lead time, and supply reliability.
• Monitor supplier on-time delivery and purchasing performance.
• Resolve supplier delivery, quantity, pricing, and material issues that could affect production.

Inventory & ERP Management

• Maintain accurate inventory, work-order, purchasing, and scheduling information within Global Shop Solutions.
• Monitor raw material, work-in-process, and finished-goods inventory.
• Investigate and help resolve inventory discrepancies.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels while avoiding unnecessary excess inventory.
• Review ERP planning data, lead times, and other planning parameters for accuracy.
• Run and analyze production, purchasing, inventory, shortage, and scheduling reports.

Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve production planning, purchasing, inventory control, material flow, and ERP processes.
• Create and maintain Work Instructions for planning, purchasing, and inventory processes.
• Help standardize processes and reduce manual work where practical.
• Participate in Lean and continuous-improvement activities related to production flow and material management.
• Work with other departments to resolve recurring scheduling, inventory, purchasing, and workflow problems.

Measures of Success

Performance in this role will be measured by:

• Customer on-time delivery
• Production schedule adherence
• Material availability
• Inventory accuracy
• ERP data accuracy
• Supplier on-time delivery
• Purchasing cost performance
• Work-order and scheduling accuracy
• Reduction in production disruptions caused by material or planning shortages
• Timely identification and communication of scheduling and delivery risks

Qualifications

• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in production planning, purchasing, materials management, or a combination of these functions within a manufacturing environment.
• Machine-shop or precision-manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems required; Global Shop Solutions experience is highly preferred.
• Working knowledge of production scheduling, routings, work orders, inventory control, purchasing, and material planning.
• Ability to understand manufacturing capacity, lead times, material requirements, and production constraints.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills.
• Ability to manage changing priorities and make sound decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with production employees, suppliers, and other departments.
• High attention to detail and commitment to maintaining accurate ERP data.

Additional Responsibilities

• Support continuous-improvement projects related to planning, purchasing, inventory, and production flow.
• Participate in production and operations meetings as required.
• Provide backup support for related planning, purchasing, and customer-service activities when needed.
• Create and maintain documentation related to assigned processes.
• Perform other operations-related duties as assigned.

Physical Demands

While performing this job, the employee will regularly work in both an office and manufacturing environment and may be required to sit, stand, walk, reach, bend, and handle materials or parts.

The employee must be able to lift or move up to 11 kg and occasionally assist with heavier materials using appropriate equipment or assistance.

Work Environment

This is an onsite position in a manufacturing environment. The employee will regularly interact with production personnel and spend time on the shop floor.

Safety glasses and closed-toe shoes are required on the production floor. Hearing protection may be required in designated areas.

Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience
• 401(k) with company match up to 5%
• Paid time off
• Ten paid holidays
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance

Pioneer Service is an equal opportunity employer.