Master Planner

The Master Planner is responsible for efficiently scheduling filling and batch production to meet the needs.  The Master Planner coordinates equipment, labor, and inventory requirements for the production of finished and processed ingredients. The master Planner must be able to manage and coach a multi-skilled, multi-level, multi-shift, diverse workforce to achieve business results. 

Plans, schedules, and monitors the movement of material through the production cycle and maintains a Production Plan that is realized in a daily Production Schedule. Works with customer service, purchasing, production, compounding, receiving, shipping, warehouse, and quality regarding daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly production schedules and forecasts, including new product releases and long-term customer needs. Oversees the Master Schedule and identifies and addresses future capacity issues proactively. Prepares and manages the demand production schedule for the facility. Drives continuous improvement in use of MRP/ERP tools, adherence to Planning disciplines, inventory, and delivery of exceptional customer service to both internal and external customers.

• Provides leadership and training to the Planning/Purchasing organization.
• Plans, schedules, and monitors the movement of material through the production cycle.
• Manage demand, production scheduling and works closely with customer service for multiple customers/products scheduling needs.
• Creates line standards by product and line for maximum efficiency, such as speed, staffing, etc.
• Formalizes weekly forecasts and sales and operations planning data.

·         Works with teams and customers to ensure execution of schedule, service, and cost requirements.

·         Partner with peers across geographies to standardize Planning/Scheduling practices across the organization.

·         Leads monthly Material Review Board, and effectively addresses Excess/Obsolete inventory.

·         Works closely with customers, purchasing, production and compounding regarding daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly production schedules and forecasts including new product releases and long-term customer needs to determine daily production and shipping requirements.

·         Establishes supply chain parameters to drive 100% on time delivery of requirements along with appropriate inventory levels to protect against variation.

·         Supports new product/program launches from a planning perspective.

·         Work effectively in a matrix organization.

Direct Responsibilities

• Develop scheduling methodology that delivers a stable schedule, while still delivering agility when/where needed to support customer requirements.
• Create, maintain, and verify the Production Schedule and interface with Customer Service Representative, Purchasing, Production and Compounding personnel to resolve labor, equipment and material shortages, backlogs, and other potential schedule deficits and/or interruptions.

·         Efficiently schedules equipment, manpower, and inventory requirements for the production of finished and processed ingredients to optimize safety, quality, service, and cost, and inventory.

·         Create and maintain valid Capacity Requirements plan, supporting the Production Schedule.

·         Evaluate scheduling priorities needed to support fluctuating demands in sales for the product set that they oversee; including collaboration cross functionally as required.

·         Work with Customer Service Representative, Buying, Production and Compounding to provide solutions to problems in meeting the Production Plan to ensure that the Production Schedule is achieved.

·         Lead cross-functional meetings to resolve urgent supply issues utilizing data integrating MPS/PAB principles

·         Communicate scheduling exceptions to Management and Sales/Customer Service Rep

·         Review capacity performance and recommends necessary changes as needed

·         Adhere to defined Planning and Scheduling business processes, including planning cycle, exception message management and time horizons.

·         Ensure planning process and transactional execution that upholds inventory accuracy/integrity throughout the manufacturing process end to end.

·         Compile and report monthly schedule metrics.

·         Participate in continuous improvement of Planning and Control systems.

·         Perform related duties as assigned.

·         Drives efforts to alleviate material planning, MRP, and Kanban training deficiencies both within and outside of their materials team.

·         Assists Materials Manager in prioritizing IT efforts to develop information systems for Operations team. Critical team member on MRP/ERP improvement projects.

·         Develop and maintain management reports as required.

·         Participate in the development of the process and system changes necessary to enhance MRP performance, including prioritizing IT efforts and being a critical team member on MRP/ERP improvement projects.

·         Develops and implements strategies to improve the operation.

·         Initiates and completes projects and assignments in a timely manner.

·         Schedules equipment downtime for preventative maintenance as requested.

·         Oversees Cycle Count Program

·         Develop and maintain management reports as required.

·         Oversee analysis of finished goods, inventory, and work-in-progress.

·         Planning Key Competencies:

o    Adaptive learning

o    Innovative thinking

o    Continuous improvement mindset

o    Planning & process orientation

o    Project leadership

o    Cross-boundary/cross cultural communication

o    Teamwork

o    Customer solution orientation

o    Technical problem solving

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years scheduling/planning experience in a manufacturing environment

·         BS/BA Degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field

·         Current computer skills - Microsoft Office, Access, MRP/ERP, WMS

• Broad based supply chain management and process development knowledge required
• Experience should include but not limited to scheduling, demand and record management, customer measurement systems, inventory management and material flow

·         MRP / Kanban experience

·         Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including ability to effectively coach, motivate employees.

·         Demonstrated knowledge and experience in Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma?

·         Strong interpersonal skills and ability to effectively interact with all levels of external and internal customers.

·         Effective verbal/written communication and presentation skills.

·         Strong bias for action, and effective change agent.

·         Proficiency in managing and facilitating teams through problem solving and conflict resolutions.

·         Ability to successfully manage multiple priorities.

·         Excellent knowledge of operations a plus.

·         Must be able to effectively communicate, make independent decisions, lead change and be assertive about taking responsibility.

·         Must be able to deliver strong schedule execution and show sustainable improvement in KPIs and can work effectively in a team environment a plus.

·         Excellent written/verbal communication and effective listening skills.

·         Ability to think outside of the box and challenge the status quo.

·         Must be able to make fact base decision and think strategically.

·         Must be able to lead/influence others in the development and implementation of business objectives.

·         Must be able to analyze data and have operational understanding to identify, prevent, and solve problems and make decisions in a timely manner.

·         Must be able to make immediate decisions with limited information and rapid assimilation of facts. 

·         Must have the ability to multi-task and take on multiple projects at one time.

·         Must be able to work weekends.

·         Preferred Qualifications:

o    APICS CPIM (preferred)

o    Six Sigma Green Belt / Black Belt / Lead Master certifications (preferred)

Business Objects, Access, and advanced Excel skills