Production Planner

Role Overview

The Production Planner is responsible for developing, coordinating, and maintaining production schedules to ensure the efficient and timely manufacture of aerospace components and assemblies. This role ensures alignment between customer demand, engineering requirements, material availability, and manufacturing capacity while adhering to strict aerospace quality and regulatory standards.

Operating in a highly regulated environment, the Production Planner plays a critical role in ensuring on-time delivery, cost control, and compliance with industry standards such as AS9100.

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning & Scheduling

• Develop and maintain detailed production schedules based on customer orders, forecasts, and project timelines.
• Translate demand requirements into actionable manufacturing plans.
• Sequence production activities to optimise workflow, minimise bottlenecks, and maximise efficiency.
• Monitor work-in-progress (WIP) and adjust schedules to respond to changing priorities or disruptions.

Demand & Capacity Planning

• Analyse demand forecasts and customer orders to determine production requirements.
• Assess manufacturing capacity (labour, machinery, tooling) and identify constraints.
• Balance workload across departments to ensure efficient resource utilisation.
• Collaborate with operations and engineering teams to resolve capacity issues.

Material & Inventory Coordination

• Coordinate with procurement and supply chain teams to ensure timely availability of materials and components.
• Monitor inventory levels and minimise excess or obsolete stock.
• Support material requirements planning (MRP) processes within ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle).

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with engineering, quality, procurement, and production teams to ensure alignment.
• Participate in production meetings to review schedules, progress, and issues.
• Communicate schedule changes and priorities across relevant stakeholders.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

• Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as on-time delivery, schedule adherence, and cycle times.
• Generate regular reports on production performance and highlight risks or delays.
• Identify root causes of production delays and propose corrective actions.

Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Ensure production plans comply with aerospace standards and regulatory requirements (e.g., AS9100, FAA/EASA requirements where applicable).
• Support audit processes by maintaining accurate production records and documentation.
• Ensure traceability of materials and components throughout the production lifecycle.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve planning processes, efficiency, and cost control.
• Support Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Implement best practices in scheduling, forecasting, and inventory management.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Advanced planning and organisational abilities
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, IFS)
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Excel (advanced level preferred)
• Understanding of manufacturing workflows and supply chain processes

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field
• 3+ years' experience in production planning within manufacturing (preferably aerospace or engineering)
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems
• Knowledge of production scheduling techniques and capacity planning

Desirable

• Experience in aerospace, defence, or highly regulated industries
• Knowledge of AS9100 or equivalent quality standards
• APICS / CPIM or equivalent supply chain certification
• Familiarity with Lean manufacturing principles

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• On-time delivery (OTD) performance
• Schedule adherence
• Inventory turnover and stock accuracy
• Reduction in production delays and bottlenecks
• Forecast accuracy
• Work-in-progress (WIP) levels