Production Planner

MS Companies is partnering with a confidential automotive manufacturing client to identify a Production Planner for their Columbus, Indiana facility. This is a critical, full-time direct hire role supporting a fast-paced, IATF 16949–compliant manufacturing environment.

The Production Planner will be responsible for developing and maintaining production schedules that meet customer demand while optimizing capacity, material flow, and inventory levels. Due to current business needs, the client is seeking a candidate who can start within the next 2–4 weeks
, with earlier availability strongly preferred
.

• 2–3 years of experience in production planning or materials control
• Strong understanding of MRP/ERP systems and demand planning
• Experience working with EDI demand and scheduling signals
• Knowledge of capacity planning, production sequencing, and inventory control
• Strong analytical, organizational, and cross-functional communication skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, or a related discipline
• 5+ years of experience in a production planning or materials control role
• APICS certification
• Experience with Oracle and/or SAP ERP systems
• Familiarity with Lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement initiatives

• Review and act on order releases, planning signals, and exception messages from ERP/MRP systems
• Develop and maintain production schedules to meet customer demand while maximizing labor and equipment utilization
• Analyze safety stock levels, lead times, and capacity constraints to balance service levels and inventory investment
• Monitor daily production performance versus plan and adjust schedules to mitigate shortages, downtime, or supply risks
• Coordinate closely with Purchasing, Engineering, Quality, and Manufacturing teams to ensure material readiness
• Support new product launches, engineering changes, and phase-in/phase-out planning activities
• Ensure compliance with IATF 16949 requirements, including FIFO, traceability, and customer-specific logistics rules
• Prepare and maintain reports and KPIs related to delivery performance, inventory turns, and capacity utilization

• Combination of office and production floor environment
• Standing, walking, and sitting throughout the workday
• Occasional lifting up to 50 lbs using proper lifting techniques
• PPE required, including safety glasses and safety shoes

• 401(k) with company match
• Stable, growing automotive manufacturing environment
• Strong emphasis on cross-functional collaboration and continuous improvement