Production Planner

Production Planning and Scheduling 

• Develop and maintain production schedules that align with customer demand, sales forecasts, and manufacturing capacity. This involves analysing customer orders, sales projections, and manufacturing capabilities to create detailed production plans that outline the sequence and timing of production activities. 

• Analyse production requirements, material availability, and logistics considerations to optimize production planning. This involves assessing the materials, components, and labour needed for each product, identifying potential constraints (including transportation and warehousing), and adjusting the production schedule to ensure efficient resource utilization and timely order fulfilment. 

• Schedule production activities to ensure smooth flow of materials, efficient resource utilization, and timely completion of orders. This involves breaking down production processes into individual tasks, assigning tasks to specific workstations or teams, and coordinating the movement of materials and components throughout the production process, considering inbound and outbound logistics. 

• Maintain and utilise ERP systems to manage production planning, labour hours, inventory control, and logistics activities, ensuring data accuracy and real-time visibility. 

Logistics Coordination 

• Coordinate the inbound flow of raw materials and components, working with suppliers and procurement to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery to meet production schedules. This includes tracking shipments, resolving any delivery issues, and ensuring proper documentation. 

• Plan and coordinate the outbound flow of finished goods, including packaging, warehousing, and transportation to meet customer delivery requirements. This involves selecting appropriate shipping methods, arranging transportation, and ensuring timely and accurate delivery. 

• Collaborate with warehouse and transportation providers to optimize storage and distribution processes, ensuring efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This includes monitoring inventory levels, managing warehouse space, and negotiating favourable transportation rates. 

• Ensure compliance with all relevant shipping regulations and documentation requirements for both inbound and outbound logistics. 

Performance Monitoring and Reporting 

• Take ownership of key performance indicators (KPIs) that drive production and logistics efficiency. Responsibilities include tracking and reporting metrics such as:  

• On-time Delivery Rates: Ensure orders are fulfilled and delivered to customers as scheduled. 

• Revenue Targets: Monitor performance against budgeted revenue goals by ensuring effective coordination between production output and customer order fulfilment, minimizing delays or lost sales opportunities. 

• Schedule Adherence: Evaluate how closely actual production follows the planned schedule. 

• Generate regular reports for senior management, identify trends, and recommend corrective actions when performance deviates from targets. 

Production Process Optimization 

• Analyse production processes to identify areas for improvement, potential bottlenecks, and waste reduction opportunities. This involves conducting detailed process reviews, collecting data on process performance, and identifying areas where efficiency can be enhanced, lead times can be reduced, and costs can be minimized. 

• Implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, reduce lead times, and minimize production costs. This involves developing and implementing process changes, such as streamlining workflows, introducing new technologies, or adopting lean manufacturing principles, to achieve operational excellence. 

• Collaborate with engineering and operations teams to optimize production processes and ensure adherence to quality standards. This involves working closely with engineering teams to design and implement process improvements, and collaborating with operations teams to ensure that new processes are effectively implemented and monitored for adherence to quality standards. 

• Adhere to a safety first standard, and relevant industry regulations across planning and logistics operations. 

You will also be expected to carry out any additional duties that may be assigned to you by the company from time to time.    

Most relevant qualifications, education and training: 

• Knowledge of industrial/commercial HVAC components, functions, controls, design, and development. 

• Strong organizational skills. 

• High level of competence in Microsoft Excel. 

• Proficient with written and verbal technical communication and documentation.    

• Knowledge of HVAC refrigeration systems design and operation (Air Cooled & Water Cooled) 

• Understanding of logistics principles, including transportation, warehousing, and inventory management. 

• Experience in tracking and reporting on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to production and logistics. 

Please note this is a Fixed Term Contract to provide support to the end of 2026.