POSITION SUMMARY
The Planning Manager is responsible for leading production planning, master scheduling, Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), operational analytics, and digital manufacturing initiatives within a high-mix, low-to-medium volume manufacturing environment.
This position serves as the organization's primary authority on production flow, manufacturing capacity, schedule risk, operational forecasting, and performance measurement. Using M1 ERP, Foundry, Artificial Intelligence (AI), advanced analytics, and integrated manufacturing systems, this role drives improved schedule adherence, throughput, on-time delivery, and data-driven decision-making across the organization.
The Planning Manager owns the enterprise Master Production Schedule (MPS), facilitates the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, and provides leadership for Production Planning and Production Control activities. This position aligns customer demand, manufacturing capacity, material availability, labor resources, and business priorities while providing executive leadership with accurate and timely visibility into operational performance.
This role serves as the business owner for operational planning systems, performance reporting, capacity modeling, schedule adherence methodology, and operational analytics. Success will be measured through improvements in delivery performance, planning accuracy, throughput, labor utilization, schedule stability, and overall manufacturing effectiveness.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop and maintain the master production schedule (MPS) across multiple product lines in a high-mix manufacturing environment.
- Optimize production by balancing demand, capacity, inventory, and lead times while coordinating labor, equipment, facilities, suppliers, and materials across all value streams.
- Ensure alignment between customer demand, manufacturing capacity, workforce needs, material availability, and overall business priorities.
- Monitor schedule adherence and proactively adjust and develop recovery plans to address constraints, disruptions, delivery risks and priorities.
- Leverage AI/ML-based planning and scheduling tools to improve forecast accuracy, capacity planning, and sequencing.
- Deploy predictive analytics for demand variability, bottleneck detection, and throughput optimization.
- Continuously evaluate and enhance algorithm performance and applicability within the manufacturing environment.
- Serve as the subject matter expert (SME) for ERP, APS (Advanced Planning & Scheduling), and MES systems related to scheduling.
- Ensure data integrity for key planning inputs such as BOMs, routings, lead times, and capacity models.
- Develop dashboards and reporting tools to provide real-time visibility into schedule performance, KPIs, and risks.
- Lead system enhancements, integrations, and digital transformation initiatives tied to production planning.
- Drive Schedule adherence and capacity utilization.
- Communicate schedule changes, risks, and recovery plans clearly to stakeholders.
- Manage scheduling complexity associated with frequent changeovers, diverse product configurations, and variable processing times.
- Optimize sequencing to minimize setup time while maintaining customer delivery commitments.
- Implement strategies for flexible manufacturing and rapid response to changing customer demands.
- Develop short, medium, and long-range production plans aligned with customer commitments and business objectives.
- Establish and maintain finite-capacity planning methodologies.
- Lead weekly and monthly planning reviews.
- Evaluate the operational impact of changing customer priorities, engineering changes, and new business opportunities.
- Ensure planning processes support both operational execution and strategic business objectives.
- Own and facilitate the monthly Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process.
- Develop demand, capacity, and supply planning scenarios.
- Identify and communicate future constraints, risks, and resource requirements.
- Present operational forecasts and recommendations to executive leadership.
- Drive organizational alignment regarding production priorities and resource allocation.
- Monitor and report S&OP plan attainment.
- Own the development, governance, and reporting of operational performance metrics.
- Establish standard KPI definitions, calculations, reporting methodologies, and accountability structures.
- Lead operational performance reviews with leadership teams.
- Analyze trends and provide recommendations based on operational data.
- Ensure performance reporting drives action and continuous improvement.
- Serve as the business owner for Foundry-related operational planning and analytics initiatives.
- Develop and maintain operational and executive dashboards, workflows, visual management systems and decision-support tools.
- Integrate ERP, labor, quality, engineering, and manufacturing data into a unified operational environment.
- Develop automated reporting and exception-management systems.
- Develop predictive analytics related to capacity utilization, delivery risk, schedule adherence, labor demand, and throughput performance.
- Evaluate and recommend emerging technologies that improve operational effectiveness.
- Lead, coach, and develop the Planning team.
- Establish organizational goals, priorities, and performance expectations.
- Develop team competencies in planning, scheduling, analytics, Foundry utilization, and AI-enabled decision support.
- Drive cross-functional alignment between Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management.
- Support succession planning and talent development initiatives.
- Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision making.
- Improve planning accuracy, schedule stability, and operational predictability.
- Identify and eliminate planning-related inefficiencies and bottlenecks.
- Support Lean Manufacturing, Theory of Constraints, Six Sigma, and Total Quality Management initiatives.
- Lead projects focused on throughput improvement, delivery performance, and operational excellence.
- Standardize planning and reporting methodologies across the organization.
- Work to reduce and eliminate barriers and obstacles to improve overall cost and scheduling performance.
- Your leadership is expected to make it easier for employees to make quality products and make it easier for customers to do business with GSM.
- Demonstrates responsibility and accountability for creating a professional, safe, and clean environment evidenced by: being at work on time to perform assigned duties, following the policies of Granite State Manufacturing, always wearing safety glasses in designated areas, maintaining a neat and orderly work area, and following safety practices to prevent errors.
- Demonstrates commitment to teamwork by establishing effective relationships and networks with both managers/directors and workers, and collaborating with them to accomplish shared purposes and goals.
- Abides by GSM Code of Ethics and Business Conduct standards and strictly observes all U.S. and foreign laws and regulations.
- Completes other duties as assigned.
Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Data Science, or related field.
- 7+ years of experience in production planning/scheduling in a manufacturing environment (high-mix preferred).
- 3+ years leading planning or scheduling teams
- Strong analytical skills with experience using data and modeling to drive decisions.
- Knowledge of lean manufacturing, capacity planning, and constraint-based scheduling.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing setting with high variability and evolving priorities.
- Experience with AI tools or platforms applied to supply chain or manufacturing optimization.
- Familiarity with Python, SQL, or data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau).
- APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP) or equivalent.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel and business intelligence skills.
- Experience with Foundry platforms and digital manufacturing ecosystems.
- Experience implementing AI, machine learning, predictive analytics, or advanced planning systems.
- Experience with ERP systems such as M1, SAP, Oracle, Epicor, or similar platforms.
- Experience within defense, aerospace, naval, or highly regulated manufacturing environments.
- Experience with MES integration and Industry 4.0 technologies.
- Systems thinking and problem-solving
- Data-driven decision-making
- Adaptability in complex, high-mix environments
- Strong communication and stakeholder management
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Inventory Management
- Due to the nature and importance of GSM’s work, our positions require access to export-controlled information. Therefore, all candidates must qualify as a U.S. Person under applicable export-control/ITAR regulations or otherwise be authorized to access such information under U.S. law.
EEO STATEMENT
Granite State Manufacturing (GSM) is an equal opportunity employer. GSM does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability or veteran status in its programs, activities or employment.
Benefits
Granite State Manufacturing offers a comprehensive benefits package to all GSM employees.
- Paid time off
- Floating holidays
- Paid holidays
- 401(k)
- 401(k) company matching
- Dental & Vision insurance (Company paid)
- Disability benefits
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Competitive health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Voluntary benefits
- Referral program
…and much more.
