Production Planner

Are you looking to be part of a fast-growing global food business with North American operations? Do you want to realize your ambitions while being part of a principle-driven organization that aspires to transform its business through powerful Brands? At LT Foods Americas (LTFA), we aim to become a Food business driven by the 5 principles that underpin everything we do: Business Ethics, Innovation, Ownership, Passion for Excellence, & Customer Centricity. We seek associates who want to drive meaning in their work that benefits them, the organization, and the world around us. What you get at LTFA is challenging, interesting work with opportunities to grow in the U.S., Europe & beyond. You get the tools you need to do an excellent job and have smart, motivated people around you to help you do it It’s about having ideas. And ideals. Being prepared to risk failure because the promise of success means we’ll all be a little better off. That mix of integrity and ambition makes LTFA a special workplace. And why is working here always about more than just a job?

LT Foods Americas (LTFA) is part of LT Foods Limited, an emerging global food company with net sales of over $800 million globally. It operates across various categories, including specialty rice, organic foods, and convenience rice-based products. The Company is engaged in the milling, processing, and marketing of branded and non-branded basmati rice and manufacturing rice food products in Indian & international markets. LT Foods has a global presence in India, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States. Its operations include contract farming, procurement, storage, processing, packaging, and distribution. Its rice product portfolio comprises brown, white, steamed, parboiled, organic, quick-cooking brown rice, and ready-to-heat rice. The Company's brands include DAAWAT®, ROYAL®; 817 ELEPHANT®, INDUS VALLEY®, ECOLIFE® & GRAPEOLA®.

We seek an experienced and highly skilled Production Planner to oversee and manage all production planning for our Dry rice and ready-to-heat packing plants. As a Production Planner, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the efficient coordination of production activities to meet customer demands while optimizing resources and ensuring capacity is managed effectively. Your responsibilities will involve strategic planning, scheduling, and monitoring production processes to deliver high-quality products promptly.

Key Responsibilities

• Production Scheduling: Develop and maintain production schedules for 3 facilities to ensure the timely execution of manufacturing orders. Coordinate with various departments, including procurement, production, and logistics, to align schedules with available resources and production capacity.
• Material Planning: Collaborate with procurement teams to ensure the availability of raw materials, components, and supplies required for each job before starting manufacturing, monitor inventory levels, forecast demand, and adjust procurement plans as necessary to prevent shortages or excess inventory.
• Capacity Planning: Continuously analyze production capacity, identify constraints, and develop feasible production plans. Optimize resource utilization by balancing workloads across production lines and shifts, considering equipment availability, part availability, labor capacity, and lead times.
• Order Management: Review and prioritize customer orders based on delivery requirements, production capacity, and inventory. To manage expectations effectively, communicate with sales teams and customer service regarding order status, lead times, and potential delays.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities for process optimization and efficiency improvements within the production planning process. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement and sustain best practices, streamline workflows, and reduce waste.
• Performance Monitoring: Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as production output, capacity utilization, cost impacts, and schedule adherence. Analyze variances and deviations from the plan to identify root causes and implement corrective actions to meet production targets.
• Risk Management: Anticipate potential risks and disruptions to production schedules, such as material and component availability, equipment breakdowns, supplier delays, or workforce shortages. Develop contingency plans and alternative scenarios to mitigate risks and minimize impact on production operations.
• Reporting: Generate reports and analytics to track performance metrics, identify trends, and support decision-making processes.

EXPERIENCE, EDUCATIONAL, AND TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2-4 years of proven experience in production planning, scheduling, or supply chain management within a manufacturing environment is required.
• Experience using production planning software, ERP systems, and Microsoft Excel for data analysis and reporting.
• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Operations Management, or related field is preferred.
• APICS certification preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and make informed decisions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and levels of the organization.
• Attention to detail and managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies is a plus.