Production Planner, Custom Products

Georg Fischer LLC; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Georg Fischer LLC in Irvine, CA seeks a Production Planner to coordinate release, scheduling and monitoring of work orders in a custom manufacturing setting. You will balance capacity, material availability, and demand while collaborating with Purchasing, Inventory, and Customer Service teams.

The role requires strong analytical skills, SAP/MRP proficiency, and a solid understanding of lean manufacturing. Proven ability to manage multiple projects and improve on-time delivery is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• APICS CPIM certification preferred.
• 1–3 years of experience in production planning or scheduling in a manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage full lifecycle of production work orders from creation to completion with data accuracy and timely release.
• Maintain and update production schedule based on demand forecasts, capacity, and material availability.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to resolve scheduling issues and balance production plans.
• Track production progress and order status in SAP; provide committed dates and identify delays or bottlenecks.
• Analyze demand planning and inventory data to optimize schedules and resource utilization.
• Forecast material requirements with Purchasing and Supply Chain to mitigate disruptions.
• Apply lean manufacturing practices to streamline workflow and reduce waste.
• Generate and maintain reports on production status, rates, and KPIs.
• Provide backup support to Production Control Supervisor and Operations Manager.

Skills

ERP/MRP systems

SAP

Microsoft Office

BOM reading

Lean manufacturing

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management

APICS CPIM certification

Tools

SAP

Job description

We are seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Production Planner to coordinate and manage production planning activities within a custom manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for releasing, scheduling, monitoring, and managing work orders to ensure products are manufactured efficiently, accurately, and delivered on time. The Production Planner works closely with manufacturing, purchasing, inventory, and customer service teams to balance production capacity, material availability, and customer demand. The ideal candidate possesses strong analytical and problem-solving skills, experience working with ERP systems (SAP preferred), and a solid understanding of production scheduling, inventory control, and lean manufacturing principles. Success in this role requires the ability to prioritize multiple projects, maintain accurate production data, and proactively identify opportunities to improve workflow efficiency and on-time delivery performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the full lifecycle of production work orders—from creation to completion—ensuring data accuracy, timely release, and alignment with production goals.
• Maintain and update the production schedule based on demand forecasts, capacity constraints, and material availability.
• Act as a liaison between Production, Customer Service, Project Management, Sales, and other departments to coordinate production plans and resolve scheduling issues.
• Track production progress and order status in SAP; provide committed dates and identify potential delays or bottlenecks.
• Analyze demand planning and inventory data to optimize schedules and ensure efficient resource utilization.
• Collaborate with Purchasing and Supply Chain to forecast material requirements and mitigate potential disruptions.
• Apply lean manufacturing practices to streamline workflow and minimize waste.
• Generate and maintain reports on production status, rates, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Provide backup support to the Production Control Supervisor and Operations Manager as needed.
• Use ERP tools for demand planning, forecasting, production scheduling, inventory, and materials management.
• Analyze MRP and Material Master data for accuracy; adjust system settings to optimize outcomes.
• Develop build schedules using ERP data, capacity management, and lead times to meet customer demand.
• Monitor and balance work center capacity/load while considering customer and internal priorities.
• Regularly update manufacturing due dates to keep production plans current.
• Prepare analytical reports to support business decision-making.
• Support inventory level management, backlog monitoring, and product availability analysis.
• Review and recommend changes to standard lot sizes, safety stock levels, and forecast parameters.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to address urgent orders, material shortages, or capacity issues.
• Communicate BOM and routing requirements with Engineering.
• Continuously seek improvements in planning, scheduling, and inventory control processes.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• APICS (CPIM) certification preferred.
• 1–3 years of experience in production planning or scheduling in a manufacturing environment.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems; SAP experience strongly preferred.
• Skilled in Microsoft Office.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and bills of materials (BOMs).

Soft Skills

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; collaborative mindset.
• Proactive problem-solver with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Solid understanding of lean manufacturing and inventory control principles.

Salary Range: $65,000 - $75,000 Per Year + Bonus

We’re GF, the global leader in Flow Solutions, solving some of the world’s most urgent challenges from ensuring access to clean water, supporting safe industrial processes and building critical infrastructure to enabling efficient buildings. We provide solutions that make an impact for millions of people. That’s what we call the Plus Effect, and it starts with you. We need people who bring exceptional performance, curiosity and a readiness to challenge the status quo. In return, you’ll thrive in collaborative teams that push each other to grow through the impact you create for customers, communities and society. Shape the future of Flow Solutions and your own.