Production Planner Job at Connect Search, LLC in Wichita

Our client is seeking a Production Planner / Purchaser to join the team. This newly created postion will allow you the opportunity to own the planning process and have a direct impact on the organization. The Production Planner/Purchaser is responsible for coordinating material planning, purchasing, and production scheduling to ensure optimal inventory levels, timely procurement, and efficient production flow. This role bridges operations, procurement, and production teams to maintain strong supplier relationships, minimize stockouts, and drive supply chain performance using key metrics such as Days of Supply (DOS), Inventory Quality Ratio (IQR), and Days on Hand (DOH).

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning

• Develop and maintain detailed production schedules aligned with demand forecasts, customer orders, and capacity constraints.
• Balance production workloads and coordinate with manufacturing leads to ensure on-time delivery and minimal downtime.
• Monitor and adjust plans based on material availability, lead times, and production performance.
• Implement and track KPIs including Schedule Adherence , On-Time Delivery (OTD) , and Production Attainment .

Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Plan, source, and purchase raw materials, components, and consumables in line with production requirements.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and lead times with suppliers while ensuring quality and reliability.
• Maintain approved supplier lists and monitor performance through metrics such as Supplier On-Time Delivery and Cost Variance .
• Collaborate with suppliers on demand forecasts, expedite requests, and inventory optimization initiatives.

Inventory & Materials Management

• Maintain appropriate inventory levels using tools like Days of Supply (DOS) , Days on Hand (DOH) , and Inventory Quality Ratio (IQR) to balance availability with working capital efficiency.
• Conduct regular MRP reviews and cycle counts to ensure inventory accuracy and quality.
• Collaborate with warehouse and logistics teams to manage material flow, prevent obsolescence, and reduce excess stock.
• Support continuous improvement projects to reduce inventory carrying costs and improve inventory turns.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with sales, production, and engineering to translate forecasts into actionable material and production plans.
• Participate in S&OP (Sales and Operations Planning) meetings to align capacity and demand plans.
• Communicate proactively with stakeholders about supply constraints, material delays, and mitigation plans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Business, or related field.
• 3–7 years of experience in production planning, materials management, or purchasing within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of MRP/ERP systems (SAP, D365, NetSuite, or similar).
• Proven analytical skills with experience using Excel, Power BI, or other data tools to track KPIs.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and organizational abilities.
• APICS/CPIM or CSCP certification preferred.