Production Planner

Ferrara; Itasca (IL); On-site; USD 73,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Ferrara is seeking a Production Scheduler for their Itasca location. The role focuses on developing production schedules, coordinating with production teams, and ensuring optimal resource allocation. Ideal candidates will have strong communication skills, experience in inventory management, and proficiency in SAP. Join a company that values health, financial wellness, and offers competitive benefits including PTO and performance-based bonuses.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits

Paid time off (PTO)

Annual performance-based bonus

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in storeroom or inventory management within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with procurement and inventory processes as well as vendor management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain short-term production schedules aligning resources.
• Collaborate with production teams to support cost reduction and inventory optimization.
• Utilize SAP for production scheduling and capacity planning.

Skills

Data Analysis

Communication

Organizational Skills

Continuous Improvement

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

SAP

Job description

Work Location and Schedule

Due to the highly interactive and team-based nature of this role, in-person attendance for most of the workweek (i.e., 3 days or more) is essential for effective communication, strong supervision, real-time problem-solving, and participation in cross-functional initiatives.

Work Location: Itasca

Want to make an impact?

The Production Scheduler is responsible for developing and maintaining short-term production schedules. This schedule aligns with available resources including production lines, materials, and labor. The role requires strategic collaboration with production teams, factory leaders, and cross-functional partners to support cost reduction and optimal inventory levels. The Production Scheduler should have excellent communication skills, the ability to collaborate cross-functionally, and knowledge of SAP to complete necessary production orders.

Ways you will make a difference

• Act as the first line of contact for plant production managers to provide insight into order prioritization and requirements.
• Create a production plan within the detailed scheduling period by shift, considering capacity, labor, and materials while optimizing factory costs.
• Collaborate with factory teams to identify potential issues that may cause production disruptions and communicate potential issues to leaders, providing recommended solutions.
• Utilize SAP during production scheduling and capacity planning to determine the optimal schedule for cost and service.
• Complete the detailed schedule for next week’s production to ensure that assets are optimized (minimal changeover time) and orders across make and pack assets are linked together.
• Update necessary production orders in SAP to reflect any changes required.
• Update production order completion dates daily to account for deviations in actual vs. planned production; communicate to factory any in-week adjustments requested by Supply Planning.
• Verify that all components are available – both in network as well as in the factory or in transit from another site – to execute the weekly published production schedule.
• Coordinate consolidation of attainment and adherence comments to ensure they are complete and at the correct level of detail (appropriate root cause analysis).
• Inform Supply Planning of deviations in production schedule due to unforeseen circumstances (asset breakdown, labor constraints, material shortages, etc.) and manage potential impacts to the schedule.
• Engage in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance costs and efficiencies throughout manufacturing and planning processes.

Skills that will make you successful

• Ability to analyze data and make informed decisions to optimize inventory levels and storeroom operations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively lead and collaborate with other departments.
• Strong organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a team in a fast-paced setting.

Experiences that will support your success

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 3-5 years of experience in storeroom or inventory management within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with procurement and inventory processes as well as vendor management.
• Familiarity with maintenance operations and the role of spare parts in equipment reliability.
• Proficiency with inventory management systems, preferably SAP.
• Experience reading technical machine diagrams.

What We Offer

At Ferrara, we're proud to support our employees with comprehensive benefits that enhance health, financial wellness, and include paid time off (PTO). Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance. Learn more about our benefits at https://flimp.live/Ferrara-Candy-2025-OE-QR.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $73,200 to $109,800 per year.