Operational Controller

Thompson Aero Seating; Portadown; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

33 days annual leave

Health cash plan

Contributory Pension Scheme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Life Assurance (4x salary)

Wellbeing Initiatives

Learning and development opportunities

Career progression

Dedicated employee parking

Discounted Gym membership

Job summary

Thompson Aero Seating is seeking a Production Controller responsible for full ownership of production control for assembly or manufacturing. You will oversee the entire lifecycle from strategic planning through value stream planning and MRP maintenance, ensuring demand is production-ready and customer delivery is met.

Hours of work align with Operations (06:30-14:45). The role emphasizes continuous improvement, KPI tracking, and cross-functional collaboration to sustain smooth planning and

Qualifications

• MRP experience and strong MS Excel knowledge.
• GCSE level maths and English or equivalent.
• Experience in Production Control/Planning within manufacturing.
• Experience in improving efficiencies.
• Highly organised with strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work well under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Link with planners to ensure works orders align with tactical plans for the production system.
• Manage works orders in the MRP system to keep inputs clean and accurate.
• Own closure of works orders to support operational delivery, with planners assisting as needed.
• Maintain MRP system through reschedules and cancellations, coordinating with stores/ops and mitigating risk.
• Maintain daily and weekly KPIs against departmental deliverables.
• Support in stock take processes and generation of reports for area owners.
• Develop and maintain PRR processes to ensure milestone readiness for production and highlight risks.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships and participate in WAR/problem-solving sessions to meet the plan.
• Escalate production control issues to the functional Lead after exploring resolutions.
• Ensure adherence to company procedures and health and safety requirements.

Skills

MRP experience

Production planning

Problem-solving

High level planning

Education

GCSE level maths & English

Tools

MS Excel

Job description

The post holder will be responsible for full ownership of production control for either assembly or manufacturing. This role will oversee the full production lifecycle from high level strategic planning through to value stream planning and scheduling and MRP maintenance thereafter. Key contributor to the PRR process in ensuring demand is coming to production in a ready state. Oversee the feedback from production on progress to plan whilst ensuring customer delivery is met. Applying continuous improvement methods in regard to planning/production control activities.

Hours of work in line with Operations (06:30-14:45).

Responsibilities

• Link with planners within the department to ensure works orders created in line with planners’ tactical plan to support the production system
• Works order management from the MRP system to ensure MRP inputs are clean to support the production system
• Ownership of works order closure to support operational delivery - supported by planners in this activity as and when required
• Maintain the MRP system through reschedules and cancellations, liaising with stores/ops and mitigating risk through transactions performed
• Maintain daily and weekly KPIs against departmental deliverables
• Daily input into stores tactical plan movement after liaison with planners on any operational tactical movement within the production system and ensuring reflecting on internal processes that communicate with supply
• Development and maintenance of PRR process to ensure milestone readiness for production - linked with planners to highlight risk and ensure visible through WAR system where applicable
• Build and develop strong long-lasting collaborative relationships with the cross functional teams
• Attend Operational WAR to support problem solving activity to support achievement of the plan
• Carry out any other tasks necessary for the smooth running of the operational planning and control department, supporting peers by stepping in when required to address ad hoc or higher demand in other areas
• Problem solve production control issues prior to impact, ensuring the resolution supports both TAS and the customer
• Escalate to functional Lead on production control issues prior to internal and external customer impact so problem solving can occur, after all options for resolution have been exhausted
• Support in the weekly/monthly/annual stock take process inclusive of works order wip counts through generation of reports, circulation to area owners, management of closure per area within the time frame and transactions performed to support MRP signals
• Generation of other documents to include SWOI and load sequences
• Ensure all work is carried out in accordance with company procedures
• Ensuring health and safety requirements are always met

Reward

• Competitive salary
• Annual bonus (linked to company performance)
• 33 days annual leave (Increase after 5 years' service)
• 37.5 hours per week
• £5,000 employee referral bonus
• Health cash plan
• Contributory Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme
• Holiday Purchase Scheme - Salary Sacrifice
• Electric Car Scheme - Salary Sacrifice
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Life Assurance Scheme at x4 gross salary
• Competitive enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay
• IVF & Assisted Conception Policy
• Women in Business - Corporate Member
• Wellbeing Initiatives
• Employee Recognition scheme
• Service Awards
• Local charity / sponsorship activities
• Dedicated employee parking
• Discounted Gym membership
• Learning and development opportunities
• Career progression

Requirements

Essential

• MRP experience and good level of MS Excel knowledge
• Educated to GCSE Level, Grades A*-C, or equivalent (including Maths & English)
• Previous experience in Production Control/Planning, preferably within a Manufacturing environment
• Previous experience in improving efficiencies
• Highly organised
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Ability to work well under pressure

We reserve the right to enhance criteria on shortlisting.

Thompson Aero Seating is an Equal Opportunities employer.

The closing date for applications is the 25th October 2026 at 17:00.