Operational Controller

Thompson Aero Seating; Portadown; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual bonus

33 days annual leave

37.5 hours per week

Employee referral bonus

Health cash plan

Contributory Pension Scheme

Salary sacrifice schemes

Cycle to Work Scheme

Life Assurance (4x salary)

Maternity/Paternity pay

Job summary

Thompson Aero Seating is seeking an experienced Production Controller to own the planning and MRP for assembly or manufacturing. You will oversee the full production lifecycle from strategic planning to value stream scheduling, ensuring readiness for the PRR process and on-time customer delivery.

Responsibilities include coordinating with planners, managing works orders, maintaining MRP data, tracking daily and weekly KPIs, and applying continuous improvement methods.

Qualifications

• MRP experience and good level of MS Excel knowledge.
• GCSE Level, Grades A*-C, including Maths & English.
• Previous experience in Production Control/Planning, preferably within a Manufacturing environment.
• Previous experience in improving efficiencies.
• Highly organised; able to work under pressure.

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

Skills

MRP experience

Production planning

Problem-solving

Highly organized

Under pressure

Stakeholder communication

Education

GCSE level (Maths & English)

Tools

MRP system

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

We reserve the right to enhance criteria on shortlisting.

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

Thompson Aero Seating is an Equal Opportunities employer.

The closing date for applications is the 23rd August 2026 at 17:00.