Production Planner jobs
In any manufacturing/production situation, from a workshop to a high-volume production line, there is a fine balance between producing items much faster than they can be sold and going too slow to keep up with demand. In the ideal zone there needs to be a slight leeway, with any slack taken up by warehousing, but since this has a series of cost implications of its own, it needs to be minimised.
The production planner will be in charge of ensuring productivity is always at an optimal level to meet all demands while cutting out overproduction. Where products are perishable or otherwise time-sensitive this would simply not be an option as overproduction is pure waste. But even making things that will sell eventually but slowly will be a drain on the company’s credit and cash flow.
Using materials requirements planning (MRP) software and systems, the production planner will stay in tune with current stock levels, raw materials availability and customer demands to ensure that as productivity rises and falls, all stock levels are optimised. The planner will be in touch with several parties on a regular basis, most notably forecasters, sales and marketing teams, warehousing staff, suppliers and the factory floor. This is all to gain the best possible insight into the ability to meet customer demand and to guide productivity as it rises and falls throughout the year.
The skills required
The main personal characteristic of a production planner will be a logical, analytical mindset. This he or she will engage to perform the mental juggling act that is production planning. Business understanding will be highly valued, as there is little to distinguish running a business and keeping abreast of the costs and planning production based on the best intelligence. Plans will be being made weekly or monthly, but they will always be subject to change as the situation changes – the good planner will be able to take these changes, and all their after-effects and permutations, in their stride.
There are several popular MRP solutions on the market, and there is a good chance any large company will use one of them, so experience in using one would certainly help. A good working knowledge of all the main spread sheet and word processing solutions will also be helpful for analysis and communication.
Production Planner Jobs in Derby
Located on the River Derwent in Derbyshire, Derby is among England's 20 largest urban areas and the broad range of businesses based there today make it a great option for those seeking new Production Planner vacancies.
Derby's history goes back to a Roman settlement called Derventio and the area was home to Saxon and Viking communities during its early years.
The Industrial Revolution marked an important turning point for Derby and the city was the first to reap the benefits of a water-powered silk mill in the early 1700s.
Other innovations later in the century led to improved techniques for manufacturing stockings. In addition, a number of cotton spinning mills were established.
Within 100 years, Derby had become an important industrialised city as well as the headquarters for a number of regional railways.
Rolls-Royce established a factory in 1907, constructing cars and aircraft, while the Derby railway works was a bustling facility that designed and built rolling stock for the nation's growing rail system. Indeed, the first diesel-electric locomotive was produced there in 1948.
There's no doubt that Derby's past has influenced its future and today its top employers continue to be based in automotive manufacture and railway engineering. These include Rolls-Royce, Toyota and Bombardier Transportation.
Other well-known companies include Egg, an internet banking company, and Alstom, a company that manufactures boilers and heat exchangers for industrial purposes. Meanwhile, the chocolate company Thorntons is headquartered in nearby Alfreton.
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Production planner recruitment at Cast UK
Whether you’re working for a company looking for a production planner or you’re an experienced production planner yourself, Cast UK wants to hear from you. We deal with talent at this level of expertise every day, and we know exactly what kinds of candidates clients are looking for. Your manufacturing operation could really benefit from forming a relationship with Cast UK – please call us on 0333 121 3345 or get in touch here for more info.
For production planners looking for new challenges – please follow the link below and register your details with us. We know there are companies looking for your talents right now, so it could be the smartest thing you can do for your career.
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