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 Harrogate
The North Yorkshire town of Harrogate came to national prominence in the 17th century as a spa town, and over the following centuries visitors would go to the place to take the waters, which they thought had healing properties. Of course, the common people would not have had the wherewithal or the ability to get to the town, especially since they would have been sick, so Harrogate became a resort for the wealthy. Hotels sprung up and the town took on a genteel atmosphere which, some would say, survives to this day. The streets of the town centre are lined with restaurants and cafes, and several large parks give the town a green feel.
Harrogate is 13 miles (21 km) north of Leeds and 18 miles (30 km) west of York. Although the Yorkshire Dales are just to the west and the North York Moors to the north east, the town is not in a national park. It is, however, separated from any major settlement by at least 10 miles of countryside in any direction. The A1(M) passes reasonably close by over to the west; Leeds and York are connected a via rail route that stops at the town.
Despite its largely affluent populace, the town does have some industry, and boasts the Harrogate International Centre, the UK’s third-largest conference and exhibition centre. Thanks to Bucks Fizz’s 1981 triumph, the Centre hosted the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest. It was won by the German singer Nicole, with her song A Little Peace, something non-Eurovision fans have wished for ever since.
With an economically active populace of about 70,000 and a constant stream of professional visitors and day-trippers, Harrogate has a healthy need for logistics and supply chain professionals, meaning that Production Planner positions here and in the region are not uncommon.
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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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