Planner

Theuniversityunion; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Irwin Seating in Grand Rapids, MI seeks a Planner to support production flow, scheduling, and ERP data management. You will create routings, manage orders, and update dates to meet deadlines.

You will collaborate with purchasing, engineering, and production to resolve issues, communicate material substitutions, and maintain accurate ERP records. Strong Excel/Office skills and ERP experience are essential.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; Associate’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• 1–3 years of experience in a production planning, scheduling, or manufacturing support role; experience in a make-to-order or complex manufacturing environment is a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel, Outlook, and Word.
• Experience using ERP systems required; prior use of Plex or similar platforms strongly preferred.
• Strong logical thinking and problem-solving abilities; able to understand cause-effect relationships in production and material flow.
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interface across various departments and levels.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy and data integrity.

Responsibilities

• Create and update routing templates for new parts in the ERP system, ensuring accurate reflection of labor and resource requirements.
• Manage production orders and schedule standard parts to meet customer and production deadlines.
• Monitor and adjust production dates (“redating”) in ERP to align with manufacturing capabilities and delivery targets.
• Sort, prepare, and distribute manufacturing instructions, drawings, and prints to the production floor in a timely and organized manner.
• Serve as a liaison between planning, purchasing, engineering, production, and shipping departments to ensure alignment and timely resolution of material or production issues.
• Assist with managing and communicating material substitutions or shortages within the ERP system to minimize disruption.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records within the ERP system related to routings, bills of materials, and scheduling data.
• Generate reports and analyze schedule data to identify issues or opportunities for process improvements.
• Collaborate with purchasing to confirm availability of materials and resolve discrepancies.
• Partner with engineering to understand part changes and ensure planning data reflects current specifications.
• Support production teams by proactively identifying and addressing bottlenecks or delays.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives by identifying inefficiencies and proposing updates to planning workflows or system utilization.
• Contribute to ERP system upgrades, testing, or process reengineering as needed.

Skills

Microsoft Excel

MS Outlook

MS Word

Education

Associate’s degree in Supply Chain or related field

Tools

ERP systems (Plex or similar)

Job description

• Location 3251 Fruit Ridge Ave NW,Grand Rapids, MI, 49544-9774,United States
• Employee Type Non-Exempt

Contact information

• Name Abby Jones

Description

As a Planner at Irwin, you will play a critical role in supporting the smooth and efficient flow of materials and information throughout the manufacturing process. Working within the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, you will be responsible for creating, maintaining, and updating production routings and schedules, distributing manufacturing documentation, and supporting cross-functional teams to resolve scheduling or material-related issues. This position requires strong organizational, communication, and analytical skills, as well as the ability to adapt in a fast-paced, team-based environment.

Responsibilities

Production Scheduling and Routing

• Create and update routing templates for new parts in the ERP system, ensuring accurate reflection of labor and resource requirements.
• Manage production orders and schedule standard parts to meet customer and production deadlines.
• Monitor and adjust production dates (“redating”) in ERP to align with manufacturing capabilities and delivery targets.

Documentation and Communication

• Sort, prepare, and distribute manufacturing instructions, drawings, and prints to the production floor in a timely and organized manner.
• Serve as a liaison between planning, purchasing, engineering, production, and shipping departments to ensure alignment and timely resolution of material or production issues.
• Assist with managing and communicating material substitutions or shortages within the ERP system to minimize disruption.

ERP & Data Management

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records within the ERP system related to routings, bills of materials, and scheduling data.
• Generate reports and analyze schedule data to identify issues or opportunities for process improvements.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with purchasing to confirm availability of materials and resolve discrepancies.
• Partner with engineering to understand part changes and ensure planning data reflects current specifications.
• Support production teams by proactively identifying and addressing bottlenecks or delays.

Process Improvement

• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives by identifying inefficiencies and proposing updates to planning workflows or system utilization.
• Contribute to ERP system upgrades, testing, or process reengineering as needed.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; Associate’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• 1–3 years of experience in a production planning, scheduling, or manufacturing support role; experience in a make-to-order or complex manufacturing environment is a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel, Outlook, and Word.
• Experience using ERP systems required; prior use of Plex or similar platforms strongly preferred.
• Strong logical thinking and problem-solving abilities; able to understand cause-effect relationships in production and material flow.
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interface across various departments and levels.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy and data integrity.

Why Irwin?

Founded in 1907, Irwin Seating is a fourth-generation, family-owned company with locations in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Altamont, Illinois. We bring people together to learn, create, and share meaningful experiences both within our teams and in the spaces we design. You’ll be part of a people-first team that believes in collaboration, growth, and doing the right thing. Here, you can build a career you love while growing alongside a company that feels like family.