Production Planner - Metal Fabrication

Bennett & Game Recruitment Ltd.; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Bennett & Game Recruitment Ltd. are recruiting a Production Planner for a well-established manufacturing business in Milton Keynes. You will own production planning, material purchasing and supplier management in a fast-paced subcontract environment.

You will read engineering drawings, coordinate with Production, Sales and Engineering, and drive on-time delivery by expediting materials and balancing capacity, lead times and stock levels.

Qualifications

• Experience in production planning within a manufacturing environment.
• Background in sheet metalwork, fabrication or engineering subcontract manufacturing.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and understand material requirements.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Excel.
• Strong organisational and communication skills with a proactive approach.

Responsibilities

• Support quality investigations, audits, corrective actions for planning and scheduling.
• Purchase sheet metal, components, fixings and consumables to meet production requirements.
• Obtain supplier quotations, place orders, negotiate pricing and lead times.
• Coordinate subcontract processes including machining and finishing operations.
• Monitor work in progress, identify bottlenecks and adjust schedules.
• Expedite materials and subcontract work to keep production on track.
• Collaborate with Production, Sales, Engineering and suppliers to keep accurate schedules.
• Read engineering drawings to identify material and manufacturing needs.
• Identify improvements to reduce lead times and waste; improve on-time delivery.
• Own jobs from start to finish, aligning production and purchasing with customer requirements.

Skills

Production planning

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Reading drawings

Supplier management

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Position Details

Position: Production Planner

Salary: £38,000 - £44,000

Location: Milton Keynes

Position Overview

Production Planner required. Our client is a well-established manufacturing business specialising in sheet metalwork, fabrication and subcontract manufacturing, seeking a proactive and commercially minded Production Planner to join the team.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced manufacturing professional to take ownership of production planning, material purchasing and supplier management within a busy subcontract manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring materials are available, production runs efficiently and customer orders are delivered on time.

Responsibilities

• Supporting quality investigations, audits, corrective actions and the development of quality Planning and scheduling manufacturing jobs, balancing customer delivery dates with machine capacity, labour availability and material lead times.
• Purchasing sheet metal, components, fixings and consumables to meet production requirements while controlling costs and stock levels.
• Obtaining supplier quotations, placing purchase orders, negotiating pricing and lead times, and maintaining strong supplier relationships.
• Coordinating subcontract processes, including machining, plating and other specialist finishing operations.
• Monitoring work in progress, identifying potential bottlenecks and proactively resolving issues that could affect production schedules and delivery dates.
• Expediting outstanding materials and subcontract work to ensure jobs progress through the factory without unnecessary delays.
• Working closely with Production, Sales, Engineering and external suppliers to maintain accurate schedules and provide reliable delivery information.
• Reading and interpreting engineering drawings to identify material, component and manufacturing requirements.
• Identifying opportunities to improve production flow, reduce lead times, minimise material waste and improve on-time delivery.
• Taking ownership of jobs from start to finish, ensuring production and purchasing activities remain aligned with customer requirements.

Requirements

• Previous experience in production planning within a manufacturing environment.
• Ideally, a background in sheet metalwork, fabrication or engineering subcontract manufacturing.
• A good understanding of manufacturing processes, including laser cutting, CNC folding, welding, fabrication and assembly.
• Experience purchasing sheet materials and managing supplier and subcontractor lead times.
• The ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and understand material and component requirements.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Excel.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to liaise with production teams, suppliers and other departments.
• A proactive, practical approach to problem-solving, with a strong sense of ownership and a focus on continuous improvement.

Remuneration & Conditions

• Salary: £38,000 - £44,000
• Salary of £38,000 - £44,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• Full-time, permanent position.
• 40-hour working week.
• Opportunity to join an established manufacturing business with a supportive and team-focused working environment.