Production Planning Specialist

JOB SUMMARY:

3 Month Project, Starting ASAP.

Shift: Mon-Fri 7:30am-4pm OR 8am-4:30pm

Responsible for developing and executing long-term, monthly, weekly, and daily production plans to ensure on-time customer delivery, optimal inventory levels, and effective utilization of production capacity. Collaborates with cross-functional teams to identify planning gaps, mitigate risks, and maintain stable production operations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and/or RESPONSIBILITIES:

Long-Term Demand & Monthly Planning
· Review demand forecasts by customer, product, and equipment.
· Determine required production volume and capacity requirements.
· Maintain appropriate inventory levels to support business needs.
· Communicate production volume forecasts to relevant functions.
· Coordinate material availability and workforce planning activities.

Weekly Planning
· Analyze demand and inventory requirements for the upcoming 2–3 weeks.
· Establish production schedules, priorities, and sequencing.
· Balance production capacity and customer requirements.

Daily Planning
· Issue daily production schedules and instructions to manufacturing.
· Monitor production progress against plan.
· Adjust schedules and priorities as necessary to ensure customer delivery commitments are met.
· Coordinate with manufacturing and related departments to resolve production issues.

General Responsibilities
· Identify production planning gaps and potential delivery risks.
· Implement actions to mitigate risks and improve planning effectiveness.
· Support continuous improvement activities related to planning processes and inventory management.

KEY DECISIONS/DIMENSIONS:
· Determine production quantities, timing, and priorities.
· Establish production sequencing based on customer demand, capacity, and inventory status.
· Balance inventory levels, production resources, and delivery requirements.
· Escalating capacity, material, or scheduling risks impacting customer commitments.

MAJOR CHALLENGES:
· Managing fluctuating customer demand while maintaining delivery performance.
· Balancing inventory optimization with production efficiency.
· Coordinating multiple stakeholders across production, materials, and customer-facing functions.
· Responding quickly to changes in demand, capacity constraints, and supply issues.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITES:
No direct supervisory responsibility.

MINIMUM EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
· Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field preferred.
· Minimum 5 years of production planning experience in a manufacturing environment.
· Automotive industry experience preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and/or ABILITIES:
· Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
· Analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
· Knowledge of automotive industry and parts manufacturing operations.
· Ability to coordinate effectively across multiple functions.
· Strong organizational and planning skills.
· Ability to identify abnormalities, assess risks, and communicate appropriately.
· Flexible and adaptable in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
· Bilingual Japanese and English proficiency is required. Ability to communicate effectively in both languages in a business environment.

COMPUTER SKILLS:
· General PC and business system knowledge.
· Experience with ERP, MRP, APS, or production planning systems preferred
· Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES and/or REGISTRATIONS:
APICS/CPIM or related supply chain certification preferred.