Material Planner / Production Control Coordinator

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions; Auburn Hills (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability

401(k) Savings Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Paid Time‑Off (PTO)

Holidays

Education Reimbursement

Job summary

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions is seeking a Material Planner / Production Control Coordinator to own MRP execution, production planning, and material control system integrity. You will translate program schedules and engineering builds into work orders and planned production, ensuring releases align with material availability on the shop floor.

The role requires 3–5 years of experience in material planning and familiarity with Costpoint or similar ERP systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 3–5 years of material planning, production control, and MRP/ERP system execution.
• Strong understanding of MRP/ERP systems (Costpoint preferred) and inventory management.
• Ability to interpret BOMs, work orders, and production schedules.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Own MRP execution and system data integrity for planning and production control.
• Convert demand into work orders and planned production schedules.
• Release and align work orders with material availability and priorities.
• Identify and resolve material shortages in coordination with Buyers and Engineering.
• Maintain inventory accuracy and data integrity in ERP/MRP systems.
• Align MRP outputs with IMS and MPS; support program schedules.

Skills

MRP/ERP systems

Production planning

Inventory management

BOM interpretation

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, or a related discipline

Tools

Costpoint

Job description

General Job Summary

The Material Planner / Production Control Coordinator is responsible for owning MRP execution, production planning, and material control system integrity to ensure accurate, timely, and executable plans that support engineering, manufacturing, and program delivery.

Essential Job Functions

• MRP Ownership & System Execution
  • Serve as the primary user and owner of MRP/ERP (Costpoint) for planning and production control.
  • Run MRP and ensure outputs (planned orders, shortages, signals) are accurate and actionable.
  • Maintain planning parameters including:
    • Lead times
    • Lot sizes
    • Safety stock
    • Order policies
  • Validate system data to ensure reliable MRP outputs.
• Production Planning & Work Order Management
  • Convert demand (program schedules, MPS, engineering builds) into:
    • Work orders
    • Planned production schedules
  • Ensure work orders are:
    • Released correctly
    • Aligned with material availability
    • Sequenced based on priorities
  • Maintain alignment between production schedule, material availability, and shop floor execution.
• Material Planning & Shortage Management
  • Identify and manage material shortages and constraints.
  • Drive resolution of shortages through coordination with Buyers, Supply Chain, and Engineering.
  • Ensure materials are planned and available in alignment with production schedules.
  • Act as the central point of visibility for material readiness.
• Inventory Control & Data Integrity
  • Ensure inventory accuracy within ERP/MRP systems.
  • Monitor and validate on‑hand inventory, allocations, and work‑in‑process (WIP).
  • Partner with MP&L Inventory Control and Kitting to ensure physical inventory equals system data and transactions are executed correctly.
  • Investigate and resolve inventory discrepancies.
• BOM & Configuration Alignment
  • Ensure MRP planning is aligned with engineering BOMs (EBOM/MBOM) and configuration‑controlled data.
  • Support implementation of engineering changes (ECN/ECO) within planning systems.
  • Ensure correct revision and configuration are reflected in work orders and material plans.
• Cross‑Functional Coordination
  • Partner closely with Supply Chain (Buyers, Kitting, Logistics), Manufacturing (Assembly & Test), Engineering (Product, Design, Configuration), and PMO (Program schedules and priorities).
  • Communicate material status, production readiness, risks, and constraints.
• Schedule Alignment & Program Support
  • Align MRP outputs with Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and Master Production Schedule (MPS).
  • Support Program Management with material readiness status, schedule risks, and recovery plans.
• Metrics, Reporting & Visibility
  • Track and report material availability, shortages, schedule adherence, and inventory accuracy.
  • Provide clear, data‑driven inputs for daily tier meetings, weekly reviews, and monthly operating reviews (MORs).
• Continuous Improvement & System Discipline
  • Establish and maintain disciplined MRP and production control processes.
  • Identify opportunities to improve data accuracy, planning efficiency, and system utilization.
  • Support development of standard work for MRP execution and production control processes.
• Supervisory Responsibility
  • No direct people management.
  • Functional ownership of MRP and production control processes.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of MRP/ERP systems (Costpoint preferred), production planning and control, and inventory management principles.
• Ability to interpret BOMs, work orders, and production schedules.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• High attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Capacity to manage complex, cross‑functional coordination.
• Strong communication skills.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Experience in aerospace, defense, or regulated manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with AS9100D requirements and configuration management principles.
• Experience in high‑mix, low‑volume production environments.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 3–5 years of experience in material planning, production control, and MRP/ERP system execution.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Experience implementing or scaling MRP systems.
• Experience in growth‑stage manufacturing environments.

Work Environment / Physical Requirements

• Office and manufacturing environments.
• Frequent interaction with production floor and inventory areas.
• May require extended hours during production surges or system transitions.

Travel Requirements

0–10% as required for training, system implementation, or internal coordination.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Coverage
• Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Savings Plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Paid Time‑Off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Education Reimbursement

EEO Statement

EEO/M/F/D/V

Kratos Defense is an Equal Opportunity ...

EEO Is The Law

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