Production Planner

Stuart Rush; Bristol (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Stuart Rush in Virginia is seeking an experienced Materials Planner to manage ERP-driven production planning and scheduling across our high-mix manufacturing environment.

You will optimize inventory levels, lead times, and capacity, coordinate with suppliers and internal teams, and drive forecasting within the ERP and SIOP processes to meet customer and production requirements on time.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, procurement, management, supply chain, or technical field.
• 5+ years of ERP production planning and scheduling experience in a high-mix manufacturing environment.
• Strong ERP systems knowledge and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, and track materials, parts, and assemblies across plants using ERP.
• Create and manage work orders for assemblies and components.
• Coordinate with customer service on order status and quotes; reflect dates accurately.
• Optimize planning parameters like MOQ, safety stock, lead times, and capacity.
• Lead forecasting within ERP and SIOP processes.
• Analyze inventory to improve turns and ensure on-time delivery.
• Coordinate with Operations and Supply Chain on part details during transitions.
• Improve scheduling processes and team efficiency.
• Provide interim oversight of the Materials Team when needed.

Skills

ERP systems experience

Analytical skills

Multi-tasking

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, procurement, management, supply chain, or technical field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Access

Power BI

Job description

Stuart Rush is a private business formed from the legacy electric chain hoist plants of Columbus McKinnon Corporation, with the first Lodestar® hoist made in the 1950s. With long-standing operations in Damascus, VA and Lexington, TN, the company builds on a legacy of quality in chain and hoist manufacturing. Stuart Rush values its employees as the foundation of its success and is committed to fostering a strong, supportive, and resilient workplace. The company is dedicated to delivering reliable products and earning customer trust through consistent performance while building a strong future for its people and customers.

Position Overview

Utilizes the ERP system to plan, schedules, track, coordinate and expedites the flow of materials, parts, and assemblies between suppliers, machines, sections, departments, and plants to ensure customer and production requirements can be met in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage MRP, capacity, lead time, and schedule for assigned products. Ensure adequate workflow to maintain production and meet output and delivery expectations. Requires identifying, escalating, expediting, monitoring, and resolving issues related to component availability (purchased and manufactured) and any resource constraints. Facilitate daily production meetings to engage and inform all stakeholders as needed.
• Create, compile, distribute and track work orders for upper-level assemblies and lower-level components.
• Serve as the primary contact for customer service related to order status and quoting delivery for incoming orders or new quotes. Maintain work order and sales order dates to ensure they reflect current expectations.
• Maintain and optimize planning parameters such as MOQ, safety stock, lead time, and capacity within ERP system.
• Execute and refine forecasting processes within the ERP system and the SIOP process.
• Analyze inventory to determine how to increase turns, avoid excess and obsolete inventory while also ensuring a constant supply of parts to support on time delivery.
• Manage inventory transitions associated with ECN’s, product rationalization, substitutions, and new product introductions. Coordinate with Operations and Supply Chain and monitor part specific details.
• Establish and improve scheduling systems and associated processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the team and the operation.
• Serves as subject matter expert for production control, develops and shares best practices and works to advance the skills and capabilities of others on the team. Able to provide interim oversight of the Materials Team when Materials Manager is not available.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities

• A team player with strong analytical and organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Advanced computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Excel and preferably Access or PowerBI/Query.
• Results orientation with strong sense of urgency and the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced dynamic environment.
• Excellent communication skills, able to effectively interact with and present to all levels and functions within the organization.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Procurement, Management, Supply Chain, or technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in ERP production planning and scheduling with some experience in a high mix complex manufacturing environment.
• In depth understanding and experience with ERP systems.

Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates.

At Stuart Rush, we value our employees and are committed to offering a competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, paid time off, and a market-leading 401(k) plan.