Production Planner

About RTC Aerospace:

RTC Aerospace is a 60-year-old aerospace manufacturer of complex, high-tolerance, difficult-to-machine parts. We have 4 facilities across the nation bringing exceptional cellular manufacturing capabilities and unique engineered solutions to our clients’ designed products. We are a company driven by ambitious individuals, working together to become an industry leader in lean-cell manufacturing. Come be a part of something exceptional at RTC Aerospace! 

How You’ll Make an Impact 

The Production Planner is a key role within our organization, responsible for overseeing, planning, coordinating, and executing the production schedule to meet customer requirements. This includes managing purchase orders and adjusting schedules based on negotiations with customers. Acting as the primary liaison between program management and production, the Production Planner ensures timely delivery of commitments to customers. They monitor and communicate the status of work orders, physically moving parts/jobs between manufacturing work centers as necessary. The role involves effective scheduling of work cells and jobs in the MRP system according to customer demand and production capacity. Critical responsibilities also include identifying and addressing capacity constraints, optimizing equipment utilization, and maintaining strong communication with internal teams and customers to support on-time deliveries.

What you’ll be doing as a Production Planner:

• Working a Full-time, onsite position at our Fife, Washington location.
• Provide leadership and strategic direction for the Production Planning team.
• Develop a clear vision and strategy for production planning aligned with organizational goals.
• Schedule equipment, work cells, and jobs in the MRP system based on customer demand and production capacity.
• Conduct regular capacity analyses to identify bottlenecks and constraints in the production process.
• Proactively adjust schedules and allocate resources to alleviate capacity constraints and ensure timely deliveries.
• Ensure customer requirements and scheduling needs are integrated into internal production and delivery schedules.
• Collaborate closely with customers, internal teams, and suppliers to understand and fulfill customer requirements.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements in production planning to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Monitor and report progress on start and completion dates of production sequences.
• Ensure prompt movement of all active production work orders between work centers.
• Attend production meetings and provide updates on the status of overdue jobs and those approaching shipping deadlines.
• Obtain and track estimated completion dates (ECDs) from shop personnel to facilitate timely job movements.
• Coordinate expedited production needs such as special tool deliveries, assembly kits, and quality inspections.
• Track and report on the status of any special schedules or timelines requested by customers to internal program management.
• Lead and facilitate continuous improvement initiatives in production planning processes, leveraging lean manufacturing principles and industry best practices.
• Identifying and mitigating risks in production schedules, optimizing equipment utilization, and implementing mitigation strategies to ensure on-time deliveries in compliance with aerospace quality and safety standards.

Minimum Requirements:

• Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems and software (e.g., Global Shop, SAP, Oracle) for production planning and inventory control.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to conduct capacity analyses and risk assessments.
• Strong project management skills, with experience in leading cross-functional teams and managing aerospace production projects.
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to collaborate with internal teams, customers, and suppliers to achieve production goals and resolve issues promptly.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in documentation, ensuring compliance with aerospace industry standards and quality assurance processes.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities while meeting deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience in aerospace production planning, including schedu