Production Control Planner

Robert Bosch Group; St. Neots; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading industrial hydraulics company in St. Neots is looking for a proactive Production Control Planner. The role involves managing production schedules, ensuring timely delivery, and coordinating between departments. Candidates should have proven experience in production control, strong communication skills, and technical proficiency with ERP systems. Join a supportive team that values empowerment and career growth.

Benefits

Company Performance Related Pay

Pension

Life Assurance

26 days holiday (increasing to 30)

Staff discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Holiday Bonus Payment

Free car parking on site

Qualifications

• Proven experience in production control or similar commercial role within manufacturing.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong technical proficiency with ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage production schedules to meet deadlines.
• Coordinate with Sales, Engineering, and Manufacturing.
• Convert sales orders into production orders and monitor progress.

Skills

Production control

Material scheduling

Interpersonal communication

Analytical mindset

Technical proficiency

Project management principles

Tools

SAP R/3

Business Warehouse

MS Office (Excel)

Job description

At Bosch Rexroth, we are at the forefront of the industrial hydraulics industry, delivering precision-engineered solutions for our customers. Our team is driven by a commitment to quality, innovation, and customer success. We believe in empowering our people, fostering an environment where ownership and collaboration lead to exceptional results.

WE MOVE. YOU WIN.

Job Description

We are looking for a proactive and meticulousProduction Control Plannerto join our dynamic team. This role is the critical link between our customers' needs and our production capabilities, ensuring we deliver on our promises of quality and timeliness.

As our Production Control Planner, you serve as the central hub for our custom-engineered hydraulic systems, driving each unique project from order confirmation to successful delivery. You will take ownership of the entire production lifecycle, ensuring seamless coordination between Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, and the customer to deliver high-quality, bespoke solutions on time and on budget.

In this role, you will:

• Be the Master of the Schedule:Develop, manage, and adapt production schedules to meet customer deadlines, balance workloads, and optimise our use of resources.
• Act as the Central Hub giving Proactive Communication: You anticipate information needs and communicate clearly liaising directly with Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Logistics teams to align on priorities, troubleshoot issues, and ensure everyone is working towards the same goal.
• Planning & Organising: Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously without losing track of details.
• Proactively Solve Problems:Identify potential material shortages or production delays before they become critical issues, using data and collaboration to find swift, effective solutions. You don't just identify problems; you develop and drive solutions.
• Drive On-Time Delivery:Convert sales orders into production orders, release them to the workshop, and monitor their progress, providing timely updates to both internal teams and external customers.
• Leverage Data for Insight:Use SAP and Business Warehouse to run reports on lead times, forward load, and shortages, transforming raw data into actionable insights that improve our performance.
• Champion Continuous Improvement:Actively contribute to projects and share ideas that enhance our planning processes, reduce costs, and elevate the service we provide to our customers.
• Influencing Others: Skill in gaining cooperation from others to meet a shared project goal.

Core Responsibilities & Impact Areas:

1. Project Initiation & Technical Planning:

• Act as the primary manufacturing stakeholder in project kick-off meetings, collaborating with Sales and Engineering to define project scope, technical requirements, and critical path milestones.
• Translate complex engineering bills of materials (BOMs) into a dynamic production plan. Proactively run lead-time analyses against new orders to validate timelines or immediately flag potential constraints.
• Secure and "fix" engineering order dates in our system (e.g., SAP), creating a firm schedule for production commencement.

2. Dynamic Production & Schedule Management:

• Own and manage the master production schedule, converting planned orders into actionable work orders for the assembly and fabrication teams.
• Lead weekly forward-load and production status meetings, clearly communicating priorities, bottlenecks, and recovery plans to all stakeholders.
• Proactively re-sequence and re-schedule production in response to engineering changes, supply chain disruptions, or evolving customer needs, ensuring all parties are updated on timeline and cost impacts.
• Champion the "shortage report," not just reporting on it, but actively expediting critical components with Procurement and suppliers to protect the production schedule.
• Serve as the key point of contact for customers regarding production status. Provide transparent, regular updates on progress, delays, and solutions, managing expectations and building trust.
• Coordinate directly with customers for shipment and delivery logistics, ensuring a smooth final handover.
• Partner with the finance department to monitor project payment milestones, ensuring customer credit continuity to prevent avoidable production holds.
• Investigate and process customer returns, managing the RMA process efficiently to resolve issues and process credits.

4. Data-Driven Process Improvement:

• Develop and maintain critical performance dashboards (e.g., On-Time Delivery, Production Variance, Overdue Orders, Lead Time Analysis) to drive continuous improvement within the ETO process.
• Analyse completed projects to identify opportunities for cost reduction, lead time compression, and quality enhancement on future orders.
• Technically close out all production orders, ensuring 100% cost and material accuracy to provide reliable data for future quoting and analysis.

5. Cross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration:

• Foster a highly collaborative environment, ensuring a rapid, two-way flow of information between Engineering, Manufacturing, and Logistics.
• Influence colleagues and stakeholders to align on project priorities and drive a collective sense of urgency and ownership.
• Actively contribute ideas for refining our ETO workflow, tools, and communication practices.

Qualifications

Required Skills & Experience:

• Proven experience in production control, material scheduling, or a similar commercial rolewithin a manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills(both written and verbal), with the ability to build strong working relationships with colleagues, suppliers, and customers.
• Strong technical proficiency, including MS Office (especially Excel) and hands-on experience with an integrated ERP system likeSAP R/3.
• An analytical mindset, with experience using data tools likeBusiness Warehouseto monitor performance and inform decisions.
• A solid understanding of Project Management principles is highly beneficial.You know what it takes to get a project from idea to completion, even if you haven't been a formal Project Manager.

Who is the Ideal Candidate?

Someone would be a great fit for Production Control at Bosch Rexroth if they:

• Are a natural planner and organiser.
• Thrive under pressure and enjoy dynamic problem-solving.
• Are analytical and data-driven but also a good communicator.
• Want to see the tangible results of their work every day.
• Are interested in technology, manufacturing, and how things are made.
• Are looking for a stable company that invests in its employees' long-term growth.

Additional Information

Why Join Us?

• Make a Tangible Impact:See the direct results of your planning and coordination on the success of our business and the satisfaction of our customers.
• A Culture of Empowerment:Work in a supportive environment where your expertise is valued and you are empowered to take ownership of your responsibilities.
• Career Growth:We are committed to your professional development with opportunities for training and advancement.
• Collaborative Spirit:Be part of a dedicated team that works together to solve challenges and celebrate successes.

We offer a competitive package including;

• Company Performance Related Pay
• Benefits:Pension, Life Assurance, 26 days holiday (plus bank holidays) increasing to 30 days with service, Staff discounts, Perkbox, Employee Assistance Programme, Holiday Bonus Payment, free car parking on site.

Please apply with your CV and covering letter.

You will need to eligible to work in the UK to apply for this position.