ABARTA Coca-Cola Beverages
Production Planner
Bedford, Ohio•Full-time
About the Job
ABARTA Coca-Cola Beverages is a family-owned company committed to being a visible, engaged partner to the customers and communities we serve. We value diversity and individuality and when you thrive, we thrive. ABARTA offers the perks of a large corporation with the personalized touch of a smaller company. We are a workplace that encourages sharing ideas in a supportive environment, growing professionally, maintaining a healthy work/life balance, and interacting with all levels of the organization. We would love for you to become a part of our family to help make our vision of Quenching the Thirst of Our Neighbors a reality!
Summary:
The Production Planner develops and maintains production schedules for assigned manufacturing operations to ensure product availability while balancing customer demand, inventory objectives, material availability, production capacity, and operational constraints.
The role works closely with Manufacturing, Materials, Warehouse, Procurement, Logistics, and Supply Chain teams to translate demand requirements into executable production plans and proactively identify risks that could affect service, inventory, or production performance.
Responsibilities:
Production Planning and Scheduling:
- Develop short- and medium-term production schedules based on demand forecasts, customer orders, inventory targets, manufacturing capacity, and material availability.
- Sequence production to support customer requirements while considering line capabilities, production efficiencies, changeovers, planned downtime, and product availability.
- Adjust production schedules as demand, material availability, equipment conditions, or other operating requirements change.
- Communicate schedule changes and priorities to manufacturing and other impacted functions.
Capacity and Constraint Management:
- Evaluate production requirements against available manufacturing capacity and identify potential capacity, labor, material, or equipment constraints.
- Partner with Operations to develop solutions when production requirements exceed available capacity or when unplanned disruptions occur.
- Provide visibility to potential service or inventory risks resulting from production constraints.
Inventory and Materials Coordination:
- Monitor finished goods and material inventory in support of established service and inventory objectives.
- Coordinate with Procurement, Materials, Warehouse, and other supply chain functions to identify and resolve material shortages that may affect production.
- Support efforts to balance product availability while minimizing excess inventory, shortages, and production inefficiencies.
Production Execution:
- Monitor production performance against the established plan and identify significant schedule variances.
- Coordinate with Manufacturing and Supply Chain partners to respond to production delays, equipment downtime, material shortages, quality issues, and changing demand.
- Track and communicate schedule attainment and other planning-related performance measures.
Sales & Operations Planning:
- Support S&OP and related planning processes by providing information regarding production capacity, constraints, inventory, and manufacturing requirements.
- Assist with evaluating future production needs and identifying risks or opportunities associated with forecasted demand.
Systems and Data Management:
- Maintain accurate production planning parameters and related master data within ERP and supply chain planning systems.
- Review planning data for accuracy and identify information or system issues affecting production schedules.
- Prepare planning reports and analysis to support operational decision-making.
Continuous Improvement:
- Identify opportunities to improve production scheduling, inventory performance, schedule attainment, and planning processes.
- Participate in cross-functional initiatives designed to reduce waste, improve productivity, increase service levels, and improve overall supply chain performance.
- Follow established company Safety, Health, Environment, and Quality procedures and policies.
- Actively participate in Hazard Mitigation.
- Complete assigned Health & Safety trainings.
Qualifications
Education and Experience
- High School Diploma or GED required.
- Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Logistics, Operations Management, or a related discipline preferred.
- Three or more years of production planning, supply planning, manufacturing, inventory management, logistics, or related experience preferred.
- Experience in a high-volume manufacturing environment preferred.
- Beverage, food, consumer products, or other fast-moving consumer goods manufacturing experience is a plus.
- Experience using ERP, MRP, or advanced planning systems preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of production planning, scheduling, inventory management, and manufacturing operations.
- Understanding of how demand, production capacity, inventory, materials, and logistics interact within the supply chain.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage changing priorities and make planning recommendations in a fast-paced operating environment.
- Strong attention to detail and data accuracy.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to build effective working relationships across Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Procurement, Warehouse, Logistics, and other functions.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and experience with ERP or supply chain planning applications.
- Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement practices is a plus.
Physical Requirements:
- Regular computer and office work associated with planning, analysis, reporting, and communication.
- Ability to occasionally work within manufacturing and warehouse environments.
- Ability to communicate effectively with employees across office and operational environments.
- Occasional travel between company locations may be required.