Production Planner — OTIF & Optimization (Food & Beverage)

The Fresh Factory; Downers Grove (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Paid time off

Retirement benefits

Job summary

The Fresh Factory, a leading food and beverage manufacturer in Downers Grove, Illinois, is seeking a Production Planner / Scheduler to balance demand with capacity across multiple lines. You will manage orders, create and adjust jobs in Plex ERP, and collaborate with Procurement, Sales, Quality, and Operations to meet OTIF goals.

The ideal candidate has 2–5 years of planning experience, strong Excel and ERP skills, and the ability to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years of production planning, scheduling, or material requirements planning experience in fast-paced manufacturing.
• Experience with Plex ERP/MRP systems.
• Advanced Excel skills, including lookups, pivot tables, and data analysis.
• Experience managing production schedules across capacity-constrained lines.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to adjust quickly to changing production requirements and disruptions.
• Strong communication and cross-department coordination.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain production plans and schedules across multiple manufacturing lines, balancing demand with capacity and resources.
• Review incoming orders, forecasts, and production requirements to determine achievable schedules.
• Evaluate and approve production dates and revisions based on capacity and materials.
• Create, sequence, and maintain production jobs within Plex ERP.
• Coordinate with Sales and Customer Operations when delivery dates need adjustment.
• Monitor OTIF performance and schedule attainment.
• Track capacity utilization, changeover efficiency, and waste; identify bottlenecks.
• Use Excel, ERP reporting, and AI tools to improve scheduling efficiency.
• Collaborate across Planning, Procurement, Sales, Quality, Maintenance, and Operations.

Skills

Production planning

Analytical

Communication

Problem solving

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain/Operations/Business

ASCM/APICS certification

Tools

Plex ERP

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The Fresh Factory, a leading food and beverage manufacturer in Downers Grove, Illinois, is seeking a Production Planner / Scheduler to balance demand with capacity across multiple lines. You will manage orders, create and adjust jobs in Plex ERP, and collaborate with Procurement, Sales, Quality, and Operations to meet OTIF goals.

The ideal candidate has 2–5 years of planning experience, strong Excel and ERP skills, and the ability to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.