Role Description:
As a Production Planner, you will play a key role in coordinating, developing, and optimising the production schedule to ensure customer demand is met efficiently and on time. By effectively utilising production resources, labour capacity, and inventory levels, you will balance forecasted sales, incoming orders, and operational constraints to maximise productivity and service performance.
You will be responsible for creating and maintaining accurate production plans, monitoring capacity, and proactively identifying potential gaps, labour shortages, material constraints, and production risks that could impact delivery commitments. Working closely with Production, Procurement, Sales, Design, and other key stakeholders, you will ensure schedules remain aligned with business forecasts, customer requirements, and operational objectives.
Key Responsibilities:
Scheduling
· Review the production schedule to ensure customer requirements, product specifications, and quality standards are achieved.
· Monitor production plans to minimise disruptions that could impact product quality or delivery performance.
· Work with Production and Design to address scheduling issues that may affect quality outcomes.
· Support the implementation of quality-focused planning processes and best practices.
· Review and monitor production plans to ensure accuracy of data.
Process Monitoring
· Develop, maintain, and optimise production schedules to meet customer demand and business objectives.
· Monitor production capacity, labour availability, machine utilisation, and inventory levels to ensure efficient operations.
· Track forecasted sales, customer orders, and production progress, adjusting schedules as required.
· Identify potential bottlenecks, capacity constraints, labour shortages, and material availability risks.
· Ensure production plans remain aligned with business forecasts and operational priorities.
Reporting & Documentation
· Maintain accurate production planning records, schedules, and capacity plans.
· Produce regular reports on schedule adherence, capacity utilisation, inventory levels, and production performance.
· Analyse planning data and provide recommendations to improve operational efficiency and customer service levels.
· Ensure planning information is communicated clearly and accurately to relevant stakeholders.
Continuous Improvement
· Identify opportunities to improve planning processes, resource utilisation, and production efficiency.
· Support initiatives to reduce lead times, improve schedule accuracy, and enhance overall operational performance.
· Contribute to the development and implementation of planning tools, systems, and best practices.
· Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and recommend corrective actions where required.
Collaboration & Training
· Work closely with Production, Procurement, Sales, Design, Warehouse, and Quality teams to ensure alignment across the planning process.
· Communicate production priorities, schedule changes, and potential risks effectively to stakeholders.
· Support and guide colleagues on planning processes and scheduling requirements where appropriate.
· Foster strong working relationships across departments to enable efficient decision-making and problem-solving.
Compliance & Certification
· Ensure production plans comply with company policies, procedures, and operational standards.
· Support compliance with relevant industry regulations, customer requirements, and quality management systems.
· Maintain accurate records to support audits, traceability, and reporting requirements.
· Promote safe and efficient working practices through effective planning and resource management.
Skills & Ability
· Strong production planning, scheduling, and organisational skills.
· Ability to analyse data, forecasts, and operational trends to support decision-making.
· Proficient in ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
· Excellent problem-solving and prioritisation skills in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
· Strong communication skills with the ability to engage effectively across multiple departments.
· Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
· Understanding of manufacturing processes, inventory management, and supply chain principles.
Personal Qualities
· Highly organised, proactive, and results oriented.
· Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
· Collaborative team player with a positive and professional approach.
· Adaptable and able to respond effectively to changing business demands.
· Confident decision-maker who can identify risks and implement practical solutions.
· Committed to continuous improvement and delivering high levels of customer service.
Health & Safety
· Ensure team members are informed of, and trained in, safe practices and procedures in their specific areas of work
· Promote safety first, ensuring a safe, secure, and legal working environment for team members, colleagues, customers, and other members of the public
· Participate in regular HS&E forums
Other Duties
· Undertake relevant development training as required
· Support other operational duties as reasonably expected within the scope of the post
Qualifications
Essentials:
· Previous experience in a Production Planning role.
· Experience using ERP/MRP systems for production scheduling, inventory management, and resource planning.
· Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
· Experience working within a busy fast-paced manufacturing or production environment.
· Demonstrable ability to analyse data, manage priorities, and make informed planning decisions.
· Understanding of capacity planning, inventory control, and production scheduling principles.
· Experience working within a business with an annual turnover exceeding £10 million, managing planning activities within a commercially driven environment.
Desirables:
· Experience implementing or improving ERP/MRP planning systems and processes.
You will need
Excellent attention to detail, the small things make a big difference to our customers
Physically fit, the role will keep you busy and, on your toes
Team focused, we enjoy working independently, but it's also important that we work together
Experience working in a similar role, we want to get it right, so share your knowledge and experience with us
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, communicating well is vital for the best teams to succeed
Driven to meet goals and targets, our people and customers have expectations, and we aim to exceed them
This job description and list of duties are not exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope of the post.
Pay: £30,000.00-£35,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Free flu jabs
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
