Production Planner

James Hardie Corporation; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 64,000 - 79,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary & bonus

Paid time off

401(k) with match

ESP (Employee Stock Purchase)

Parental leave

Wellness programs

Job summary

James Hardie Building Products Inc. in Chicago, IL seeks a ColorPlus Planner to develop detailed production schedules for multiple facilities using SAP APO, balancing constraints to maximize resource efficiency and on-time delivery.

You will collaborate with manufacturing, transportation and customer service to communicate plans, minimize landed costs, and maintain accurate planning data. A Bachelor's degree and 2+ years in analytics are preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Science, Operations, Engineering, or related field.
• 2 or more years of experience in an analytical position.
• Direct supply chain experience (preferred).
• SAP/APO planning experience (preferred).
• Ability to collaborate with plant personnel to develop action plans.
• Strong planning and data analysis capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide detailed scheduling production plans for multiple facilities using an APO planning platform.
• Ensure timely delivery of daily production plans while applying planning best practices.
• Collaborate with plant personnel to develop plan of action for shortages and downtime.
• Coordinate inter-plant transfers and manage master data for planning.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Collaboration

Decision making

Time management

Planning

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Science, Operations, Engineering, or related field

Tools

SAP/APO planning

Job description

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James Hardie is the industry leader in exterior home and outdoor living solutions, with a portfolio that includes fiber cement, fiber gypsum, composite and PVC decking and railing products. Our family of trusted brands includes Hardie®, TimberTech®, AZEK® Exteriors, Versatex®, fermacell®, and StruXure®.
With over 8,000 employees and our U.S. operating entities headquartered in Chicago, we boast 31 operating sites, 6 recycling facilities, and 6 research and development centers globally. Powered by a dynamic workforce, we’re united by our purpose of Building a Better Future for All™ through sustainable innovation, a Zero Harm culture, and a commitment to empowering our people and communities.
For more information, visit www.jameshardie.com .

The ColorPlus Planner is accountable for daily detailed scheduling and production plans for single/multiple manufacturing facilities using SAP’s Advanced Planning Optimization (APO) system. The ColorPlus Planner delivers a high level of service of assigned production plants and transfer lanes with the lowest landed cost planning solution for all products made at each plant location. In addition to the C+ planning responsibilities. The incumbent plays a key role between customer service, manufacturing, and transportation by ensuring an effective flow of communication regarding product availability, execution of lowest landed cost planning and minimization of inefficient freight. The incumbent reports to the Logistics Manager.

What You’ll Do:

Provides detailed scheduling production plans for single/multiple manufacturing facilities using an APO planning platform: (50%)

• Providing timely delivery of daily production plans while adhering to planning best practice methodology.
• Understanding and incorporating manufacturing constraints in scheduling rules in order to maximize resource efficiency and minimize inventory stock-outs.
• Providing proactive communication with key plant personnel to ensure adherence to schedule and processes.
• Collaborating with plant personnel to develop plan of action for shortages including scheduled and unscheduled downtime to ensure high customer service.

Executes inter-plant transfer strategies to enable high service of non-make items and recognizes capacity constraints within manufacturing facilities to maintain high service at lowest landed cost: (30%)

• Executing of inter-plant transfers, rail replenishments and order movements to maximize customer service while minimizing freight expenses.
• Manages all planning tools including master data to execute effective planning resulting in timely service and reduce/avoid excess and obsolete inventory.
• Monitors material availability and outbound inter-plant transfer service while managing truck building/rearranging process of inter-plant transfers to support actual customer order service goals.

Ad hoc projects and tasks will arise that require attention, drawn from sources ranges from manufacturing/planning issues to company initiatives related to our C+ business (20%)

• Manages make and transfer master data for each production facility to help facilitate both short term production and long term demand supply matching exercises.
• Works closely with finance, measures excess and obsolete inventory and develops action plans to reduce inefficient inventory with both proactive and reactive processes.

Decision Making:

The C+ Planner possesses strong decision-making ability to address day-to-day operational challenges and address deviation from results with defined action plans and collaboration. Decision making initiative is expected to be independent in a high accountability team environment.

The C+ Planner has no direct reports, but requires a high level of collaboration with transportation, customer service, and manufacturing.

Scope of Position:

The ColorPlus Planner spends the majority of his/her time executing and implementing planning best practices for facilities planned to ensure high service and lowest landed cost. Other responsibilities include support for a medium/long-term extension of managing the demand supply balance for those facilities planned in alignment with the overall network strategy through analysis and communication.

The ColorPlus Planner also interacts with the transportation group for planning and execution of inter-plant transfers, truck/rail availability, and must have the ability to work within customer service requirements.

What You’ll Bring:

• Demonstrated ability to identify and understand issues or problems using data and use effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing an appropriate solution.
• Demonstrated advanced analytical skills with the various features of spreadsheet and basic software (Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Internet, and other proprietary software).
• Knowledge of production planning best practice methodologies for multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with plant personnel to develop action plans in reaction to product/production issues while still ensuring a high-level of customer service.
• Knowledge of supply chain, transportation, and logistics.
• Ability to drive adherence to planning best practices and procedures.
• Superior interpersonal and written/oral communication skills with the ability to relate well and cooperate with others to effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to build strategic working relationships while holding others and self-accountable for deliverables.
• Demonstrated ability to act independently upon information and make decisions that achieve optimal results.
• Ability to successfully manage multiple tasks and prioritize workload while paying attention to detail.Demonstrated ability to function as a strong team player.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Science, Operations, Engineering, or related field.
• 2 or more years of experience in an analytical position. 1 year of planning experience (preferred).
• Direct supply chain experience (preferred)
• SAP/APO planning experience (preferred).
• Material Replenishment Program (MRP), deployment, Constrained Production Planning (CPP) and/or replenishment solutions experience (preferred).
• Applied Learning: Assimilating and applying new job‑related information in a timely manner.
• Building Strategic Working Relationships: Developing and using collaborative relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals.
• Decision Making: Identifying and understanding issues, problems, and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences.
• Initiating Action: Taking prompt action to accomplish objectives; taking action to achieve goals beyond what is required; being proactive.
• Innovation: Generating innovative solutions in work situations; trying different and novel ways to deal with work problems and opportunities.
• Managing Work (includes time management): Effectively managing one’s time and resources to ensure that work is completed efficiently.
• Stress Tolerance: Maintaining stable performance under pressure or opposition (such as time pressure or job ambiguity); handling stress in a manner that is acceptable to others and to the organization.
• Tenacity: Staying with a position or plan of action until the desired objective is obtained or is no longer reasonably attainable.
• Work Standards: Setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self‑imposing standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed.

What You’ll Receive:

As of the date of this posting, a good faith estimate of the current pay scale for this position is $64,000 to $79,000. Placement in the range depends on several factors such as experience, skills, geography and internal equity and may change over time. This position qualifies for benefits and you will be eligible to participate in a bonus plan.

At James Hardie, we recognize that our success depends on our people. We've worked hard to build a generous and competitive benefits program that demonstrates our commitment to our employees.

• Compensation: competitive salary and bonus eligibility
• Paid Time Off: vacation and company holidays
• Retirement: 401(k) with 6% match
• Investments: Employee Stock Purchase plan (ESP)
• Work-Life Balance: parental leave, wellness programs

James Hardie Building Products Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, veteran's status, marital status, pregnancy, disability, or any other basis protected by law.
James Hardie will comply with any applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies.
The position responsibilities outlined above are in no way to be construed as all encompassing. Other duties, responsibilities, and qualifications may be required and/or assigned as necessary.