Manufacturing Planner

Flint Hills Resources; Naperville (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Molex Optical Connectivity Group is seeking a Manufacturing Planner to optimize production schedules, balance demand and capacity, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure on-time delivery.

The role focuses on improving material availability, inventory management, and operational efficiency within a lean manufacturing framework. Ideal candidates will have strong Excel skills and experience with ERP/MRP systems in a discrete manufacturing setting.

Qualifications

• Experience in manufacturing planning, production planning, or related field.
• High School Diploma or GED.
• Experience using ERP/MRP or other planning systems.
• Experience analyzing data and using Microsoft Excel.
• Experience coordinating work across multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain production schedules to meet customer demand and business objectives.
• Analyze forecasts, inventory levels, capacity constraints, and material availability to create production plans.
• Coordinate with production, procurement, engineering, logistics, quality, and product management teams to align priorities and resolve planning challenges.
• Use dashboards and visual management tools to monitor job status, identify delays, communicate priorities, and escalate issues to maintain production flow and on-time delivery.
• Monitor schedule adherence and identify risks affecting delivery commitments.
• Utilize ERP and planning systems to manage inventory, improve material flow, and optimize manufacturing performance.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to planning processes, inventory management, and operational efficiency.
• Analyze planning metrics and communicate recommendations to support informed business decisions.

Skills

Manufacturing planning

Production planning

Supply chain

Operations

Data analysis

Microsoft Excel

Cross-functional coordination

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor's degree in supply chain or related field

Tools

SAP

MRP systems

Job description

At Molex Optical Connectivity Group, we are seeking a Manufacturing Planner to improve production efficiency, ensure material availability, and support customer satisfaction through effective planning and coordination. This role plays a critical part in balancing demand, inventory, and manufacturing capacity while partnering with cross-functional teams to achieve operational excellence.

Our Team

You will join a collaborative operations team focused on delivering innovative optical connectivity solutions through operational excellence, continuous improvement, and principled entrepreneurship.

What You Will Do

• Develop and maintain production schedules to support customer demand and business objectives.
• Analyze forecasts, inventory levels, capacity constraints, and material availability to create effective production plans.
• Partner with production, procurement,engineering,logistics, quality, andproduct managementteams to align priorities and resolve planning challenges.
• Utilize digital dashboards and visual management tools to monitor job status, identify delays, communicate priorities, and escalat eissues as appropriate to maintain production flow and on‑time delivery.
• Monitor schedule adherence and proactively identify risks that may impact delivery commitments.
• Utilize ERP and planning systems to manage inventory, improve material flow, and optimize manufacturing performance.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to planning processes, inventory management, and operational efficiency.
• Analyze planning metrics and communicate recommendations to support informed business decisions.

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)

• Experience in manufacturing planning, production planning, supply chain, operations, or a related field.
• High School Diploma or GED.
• Experience using ERP, MRP, or other manufacturing planning systems.
• Experience analyzing data and using Microsoft Excel to support business decisions.
• Experience coordinating work across multiple stakeholders in a manufacturing environment.

What Will Put You Ahead

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Operations Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• Experience within a discrete manufacturing environment.
• Experience using SAP or similar ERP platforms.
• Knowledge of inventory control, demand planning, and capacity planning concepts.
• Experience applying Lean Manufacturing or continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

For this role, we anticipate paying $75,000 - $105,000 per year. This role is eligible for variable pay, issued as a monetary bonus or in another form.

In order to comply with U.S. export control laws and regulations, this position requires applicants to either provide proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status or be eligible to receive an export authorization (a license) under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations.

Hiring Philosophy

All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here .

Who We Are

As a Koch company, Molex is a leading supplier of connectors and interconnect components, driving innovation in electronics and supporting industries from automotive to health care and consumer to data communications. The thousands of innovators who work for Molex have made us a global electronics leader. Our experienced people, groundbreaking products and leading-edge technologies help us deliver a wider array of solutions to more markets than ever before.

At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.

Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.

Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here , aquí , or tu ).