Senior Production Planning Analyst

JTEKT North America Corporation; Morristown (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

JTEKT North America Corporation in Greenville, SC or Morristown, TN seeks a Senior Production Planning Analyst to optimize manufacturing capacity and material flow. You will analyze customer demand, balance capacity, and drive make-or-buy decisions across JNA facilities.

The role requires strong leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and Lean production expertise to improve on-time delivery and plant efficiency. Travel up to 10-20% is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in high-volume manufacturing.
• Tier-1 automotive industry experience required.
• Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration required.

Responsibilities

• Develop production allocation strategy based on demand and capacity.
• Lead make-or-buy decisions and communicate outcomes to facilities.
• Create mid-term capacity planning and line loading forecasts.
• Coordinate capacity planning with Sales for volumes by program.
• Monitor plant efficiencies and cycle times.
• Support launch process with capacity and make-or-buy analysis.
• Lead inventory control and phase-out activities.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Lean production

Problem-solving

Communication

Analytical thinking

Adaptability

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Business/Related Field

5+ years in high-volume manufacturing

Job description

About JTEKT North America

JTEKT North America is a global leader in engineering and manufacturing automotive systems, bearing solutions, and high-performance machine tools. Our vision is to be the preferred choice for our customers, associates, suppliers, and local communities.

At JTEKT, we believe in building value that exceeds customer expectations, creating exceptional products that make an impact around the world, and developing professionals who think and act autonomously.

If you share our commitment to excellence, teamwork, continuous improvement, and personal growth, we invite you to find your place in the JTEKT community.

This role can be filled in either Greenville, SC or Morristown, TN

Summary/Purpose

The Senior Production Planning Analyst’s core responsibilities are:

• Developing the production allocation strategy for JNA facilities through the analysis of customer volume requirements, production capacity, and make vs. buy studies.
• Change management leadership for JNA facilities
• Inventory control leadership for the JNA facilities including phase out management

Essential Duties and Accountabilities:

• Facilitate and monitor "make or buy" decision making process and create plans based upon costs, investment, and JTEKT global "make or buy" status. Communicate and implement the decision to all related facilities.
• Create production allocation strategic plan for JNA businesses and inquiries.
• Create mid-term capacity planning / line loading forecast for all current and inquiry business.
• Coordinate with JNA Sales to maintain capacity planning volumes by customer and program.
• Maintain manufacturing floor-space "footprint" of JNA facilities at a planning level. (space requirements planning)
• Analysis and tracking of JNA plant efficiencies and cycle times.
• Complete capacity analysis as required to support market studies, inquiry business, and customer surveys.
• Assist with preparation of prior consultation forms (capital expenditure approval) by providing "make or buy" related data and production capacity documentation as required.
• Provide input to and assist with cost planning activities, requests for quotes (RFQs), annual operating plan, and long-range business plan development.
• Work with JNA facilities to identify, develop, and implement capacity expansion projects.
• Work with Program Management to support the launch process by providing capacity and "make or buy" analysis with supporting documentation.
• Support cross-functional teams to implement localization/in-house value add projects
• Facilitate, monitor, and lead phase out activities of products for the JNA Plants
• Facilitate, monitor, and lead obsolete and slow-moving inventory activities for the JNA Plants
• Facilitate, monitor, and lead inventory control activities for the JNA Plants
• Facilitate, monitor, and lead crisis management activities for the JNA Plants
• Facilitate, monitor, and lead change management activities for the JNA Plants
• Facilitate, monitor, and lead the meeting of key KPI’s for on time delivery and customer expedites for the JNA Plants and Distribution Centers
• Project Lead for production line transfer activities for the JNA Plants as required
• Other duties as assigned

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Leadership skills with ability to motivate cross-functional groups
• Positive attitude, highly motivated, and high energy level
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to promote a team environment
• Solid problem-solving skills using a variety of business and root cause tools
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to handle stressful situations
• Direct experience with Lean Production concepts and tools
• Excellent organizational skills that promote efficiency and leadership
• Financial cost reporting and analysis experience
• Flexible working hours, overtime, and travel required

Education and Experience:

• Bachelors in Engineering, Business, or Related Field plus minimum of 5 years related work experience.
• High-volume manufacturing process experience with machining and assembly operations.
• Tier-1 automotive industry experience.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work is mostly performed in a normal office setting with minimal exposure to health or safety hazards, and with substantial time spent working on a computer. Requires sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate computer keyboard and other office equipment.
• The performance of this position may occasionally require exposure to manufacturing areas which require the use of personal protective equipment such as safety glasses with side shields and mandatory hearing protection.
• Travel by automobile and plane required approximately 10-20% of time.