Production Planner in West Jordan, Utah at Quality Electrical Systems

Overview
The Production Planner at Quality Electrical Systems (QES) is responsible for developing,
coordinating, and maintaining production plans and schedules to ensure efficient
utilization of labor, materials, and equipment while meeting customer delivery
commitments. This position plays a key role in aligning production capacity with customer
demand, managing work order priorities, monitoring work-in-progress (WIP), and ensuring
materials are available to support scheduled production.
The Production Planner works closely with Production, Purchasing, Inventory, Engineering,
Quality to identify potential scheduling conflicts, address material constraints, and
proactively resolve issues that may impact production timelines. This role requires strong
analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, along with the ability to manage
changing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
This position operates on a swing shift schedule: Monday through Thursday, 10:00 AM to
8:30 PM. Swing shift pay begins at 3:30 PM, with a current shift differential of $3.00 per
hour worked. This differential does not apply to overtime or PTO and may be adjusted at the
company's discretion.
Key Responsibilities
Develop, maintain, and communicate daily, weekly, and monthly production
schedules based on customer demand, order priorities, and material availability.
Translate customer requirements and demand forecasts into production plans and
work order priorities.
Review open sales orders, production orders, and material requirements to ensure
schedules align with customer delivery commitments.
Monitor production progress and work-in-progress (WIP) to identify schedule
variances, bottlenecks, and potential delivery risks.
Coordinate with Production Supervisors and department leads to establish
priorities, balance workloads, and adjust schedules as needed.
Review material availability and collaborate with Purchasing and Inventory to ensure
components and materials are available before scheduled production dates.
Identify material shortages, supplier delays, capacity constraints, and other
potential disruptions; communicate risks and recommend corrective actions.
Monitor production capacity, lead times, and resource availability to support
realistic and achievable production schedules.
Maintain accurate production schedules, work order information, and planning data
within the ERP system.
Track production performance against planned schedules and provide regular
updates on schedule attainment, output, delays, and order status.
Coordinate with Engineering and Quality to address changes, revisions,
nonconformances, and other issues that may affect production plans.
Proactively reschedule work orders and communicate changes to affected
departments to minimize disruptions and maintain on-time delivery.
Prepare and distribute production planning reports, including schedule status,
capacity requirements, material constraints, and potential delivery concerns.
Support continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities to improve
scheduling accuracy, material flow, production efficiency, and overall planning
processes.
Maintain accurate and organized planning records to support production visibility,
accountability, and operational decision-making.
Knowledge and Experience Requirements
High school diploma or equivalent required; associate degree or coursework in
Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, or a related
field preferred.
2+ years of experience in manufacturing, production planning, production
scheduling, or production control preferred.
Experience working with ERP/MRP systems and production scheduling software.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, including the ability to organize,
analyze, and interpret production data.
Understanding of manufacturing processes, production workflows, work orders,
inventory control, and material requirements planning.
Ability to develop and maintain production schedules while balancing customer
priorities, material availability, and production capacity.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify scheduling
conflicts and proactively address production constraints.
Excellent organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage
multiple priorities in a changing production environment.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to coordinate
effectively across multiple departments.
Ability to interpret production data, identify trends, and communicate potential
risks that may impact customer delivery commitments.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with MRP/ERP planning functions, including work order management,
material requirements, and production scheduling.
Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement
practices.
Experience with capacity planning, demand planning, and production lead-time
management.
Familiarity with inventory management, purchasing processes, and supply chain
coordination.
Experience in an electrical manufacturing or assembly environment.
Core Competencies and Skills
Production planning and scheduling
Capacity and workload planning
Material requirements planning (MRP)
Work order management and prioritization
Inventory and material coordination
ERP/MRP system proficiency
Data analysis and production reporting
Schedule monitoring and execution
Problem-solving and critical thinking
Cross-functional communication and collaboration
Organization and time management
Attention to detail and accuracy
Continuous improvement and process optimization