LEW Production Planning Assistant

Warehouse Department

Job Title: Production Planning Assistant

Wage: $30.03 - $34.53 (Break in rates and $0.75 cents differential pay from 6PM - 5:59AM applies)

Hours/shift: 1st Shift

Days Off: Varies

Summary Description:

The Production Planning Assistant supports the execution and optimization of daily and longterm production schedules for the cheese and processing departments. This role is responsible for creating and maintaining accurate work orders, ensuring material availability, and supporting inventory readiness to meet customer demand. The position works crossfunctionally with production, procurement, warehouse, inventory, and corporate teams to support schedule attainment, operational efficiency, and service performance.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

• Utilize planning systems and sales forecasts to establish safety stocks, minimum production levels, and lead times for products manufactured at the facility.
• Optimize production plans in a dynamic environment with frequent changes in customer demand and shipping requirements.
• Generate and maintain daily production schedules and work orders in SAP.
• Populate, execute, and complete daily allocation and production reports.
• Monitor production progress, identify schedule variances, and recommend or implement adjustments as needed.
• Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs) including schedule attainment, delays, output, and efficiency.
• Support short and longterm forecasting and capacity planning activities.
• Identify production constraints or bottlenecks and propose corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate production records, documentation, and SAP reporting.
• Coordinate with procurement, inventory, warehouse, and shipping teams to ensure raw material availability and timely movement of finished goods.
• Communicate production schedule changes, constraints, and priorities to relevant stakeholders.
• Collaborate proactively with Corporate Product Management and Plant Operations regarding customer demand, inventory positions, and production priorities.
• Assist the Plant Production Scheduler with schedule execution support and related tasks, as needed.
• Analyze historical production, inventory, and scheduling data to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to scheduling accuracy, material flow, and service levels.
• Recommend process improvements to enhance schedule attainment, capacity utilization, and inventory efficiency.
• Support data integrity and reporting accuracy within planning and production systems.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office is required.
• Experience in the shipping, warehouse and inventory operations is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities/Competencies:

• Computer literacy. Knowledge of SAP, E2Open Logistics, MS Excel, MS Word Applications, MS Outlook email, and Typing Skills min. 40wpm.
• Knowledgeable of food safety expectations, SOPs, Cyberdocs, and MFG specifications
• Knowledge of sanitary GMPs.
• Proficient in math, analytical reasoning skills, and delegation
• Ability to conduct Risk Assessments, Quality Assurance, and Quality Control Principles
• Ability to make decisions independently in a stressful environment involving large financial impacts.
• Has excellent and effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to multi-task and deliver to deadlines.
• Have a positive outlook and strong work ethic.
• Must be able to work holidays and weekends as needed.
• May require overtime based on business needs.
• Physical requirements to perform job as defined in the essential job function.

Working Relationships:

• This position reports to the Plant Production Scheduler with an indirect reporting relationship the Materials Sr Sup and to the Corporate Product Management group.
• Office and/or manufacturing environment which requires walking, climbing, standing and in an office environment which requires standing and sitting. This position is expected to spend time out on the production floor observing operations and interacting with employees.
• Long periods of both sedentary activity and movement (walking/standing) is required.
• May be required to occasionally independently move and handle objects up to 25 pounds.