Production Planner Associate
Job Description
Associate Production Planner
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Department: Supply Chain
Reports To: Master Planner - Specialties
Position Summary
The Associate Production Planner is responsible for developing and executing production schedules for multiple product lines within an oleochemical manufacturing environment, as well as at 3rd party tollers. This role ensures optimal utilization of plant assets while balancing customer demand, raw material availability, and operational constraints.
The planner will partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Logistics, and Sales to maintain an accurate and executable production schedule that supports business objectives and customer commitments.
Key Responsibilities
Production Planning & Scheduling
- Develop and maintain daily, weekly, or monthly production schedules for multiple product lines.
- Align production plans with:
- Customer orders and forecast demand
- Raw material availability (e.g., natural oils, feedstocks)
- Plant capacity and operational constraints
- Ensure schedules support seamless area-to-area balance and handoff
Inventory & Material Management
- Monitor inventory levels of raw materials, intermediates, and finished goods
- Coordinate with Procurement and Logistics to ensure timely material availability
- Optimize inventory levels while minimizing excess and obsolescence
Cross-Functional Coordination
- Partner with Operations to communicate schedule changes impacting the next 24–72 hours
- Work with Customer Service / Sales to manage order priorities and delivery commitments
- Collaborate with Maintenance to incorporate planned outages and equipment constraints into schedules
Operational Execution & Troubleshooting
- Act as the primary point of contact for daily production planning issues
- Proactively identify and resolve scheduling conflicts, constraints, or disruptions
- Adjust schedules in real-time to address:
- Equipment downtime
- Supply interruptions
- Urgent customer needs
Continuous Improvement
- Analyze production data to improve planning accuracy and efficiency
- Drive improvements in:
- Schedule adherence
- Throughput optimization
- Inventory turns
- Support implementation of best practices in planning and scheduling
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field required
- Background in chemical, oleochemical, or process manufacturing strongly preferred
- Strong understanding of:
- Production scheduling principles
- Capacity planning
- Inventory management
Technical Skills
- Experience with ERP systems (SAP preferred – ECC or S/4HANA)
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (data analysis, pivots, scheduling tools)
- Familiarity with MRP / production planning systems
Key Competencies
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration
- High attention to detail and accuracy
- Demonstrated ownership and accountability
Working Conditions
- Manufacturing environment
- Ability to respond to off-hours issues as needed to support operations
EEO Statement
Emery Oleochemicals is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.