Deployment Planner

ounded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions.

Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®.

We are seeking a Deployment Planner for our First Quality Consumer Products Company located in McElhattan,PA. This position assures that First Quality has the right product in the correct location to consistently meet customer requirements. The Deployment Planner manages the critical flow of product and information between the manufacturing facilities and the distribution centers (DC) by creating and updating a demand strategy for assigned distribution centers. They execute this strategy by issuing stock transfer orders to initiate production and then move the product to distribution centers (DC).  Responsibilities include setup of master data, collaboration, detailed communications and balancing inventory across the network as needed.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Empowered to develop and implement plans to optimize network efficiency while meeting service goals.

• Develop and implement a demand strategy for each assigned DC by maintaining the system settings and master data required to generate optimized stock transfer orders.

• Create stock transfer orders for assigned DCs to ensure lead times are not violated.

• Maintain stock transfer orders due to changes across the supply chain to ensure accurate supply chain visibility.

• Responsible for managing inventory levels at assigned DC’s and to develop and implement plans to resolve variances as they occur.

• Coordinate with Demand Planning and Supply Chain Account Solutions to resolve forecasting, inventory and service exceptions.

• Manage inventory locations of transition items to minimize obsolescence and maintain FMFO.

• Schedule and participate in meetings with the Supply Chain team to establish priorities when capacity is tight.

• Partner with Production Planning to develop plans that accommodate inventory builds due to new product launches or equipment upgrades.

• Drive continuous improvement ideas to help improve service and streamline operations.

• Additional duties as assigned

The ideal candidate should possess the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in operations or supply chain management or related field (preferred).

• 4 plus years’ experience in a manufacturing environment.

• Experience with ERP, MRP2, DRP and inventory systems.

• Strong communication skills (written/ verbal) with stakeholders at all levels, from technical teams to senior level leaders.

• Strong problem-solving abilities to manage complex, face-paced workflow.

• Excellent computer skills with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

• Ability to interpret data to make decisions, create models, identify inefficiencies, and recommend improvements.

• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.

• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally to streamline workflows and reduce lead times.

What We Offer You

We believe that by continuously improving the quality of our benefits, we can help to raise the quality of life for our team members and their families. At First Quality you will receive:

• Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities

• Paid time off (three-week minimum)

• Medical, dental and vision starting day one

• 401(k) with employer match

• Paid parental leave

• Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2500)

• Bundle of joy benefit (year's worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)

• Tuition assistance

• Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums

• ...and more!