Senior Product Planner

Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. What does that mean? Well, we pump peanut butter into your jar, and the oil in your car. We glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life.

Within a manufacturing setting, have a broad knowledge of the entire factory to expertly forecast, plan, and schedule products to meet customers’ needs in the most timely and efficient manner not just in a cell.  Meet customer service level objectives and planned inventory objectives. Be viewed as a GAINS Champion, assist with training new hires, and lead supply chain improvements. Communicate with a variety of cross functional teams in factory and corporate positions. Gain ownership of role by developing and implementing continuous improvement processes in inventory management, demand planning, purchasing and scheduling execution on the shop floor.

What You Will Do at Graco

Planning

• Plan and execute the flow of externally procured material from the supplier into the factory for assigned products ensuring inventory optimization and flow of material.
• Plan all purchased and manufactured parts utilizing the best ordering approach.  EOQ, min/max, fixed days, Kanban, MRP, etc.
• Ensure accurate planning parameters are set in planning systems - GAINS, Oracle.
• Schedule manufacturing orders and ensure customer requirements are met.
• Give work direction and prioritize schedules on the shop floor.
• Communicate with customer service to align priorities to meet customer requirements.
• Keep management proactively informed of manufacturing challenges and issues (capacity, machine downtime, and fluctuations in resources).
• Manage inventory to ensure cell objectives are met and in line with company objectives.
• Proactively communicate supply shortages, delivery changes, or quality issues to appropriate personnel in a timely manner. Work with internal cross-functional teams on capacity utilization and sourcing for assembly and machine resources.
• Utilize the MRP system to create the buying plan, regulate safety stocks, recommend expedites, and de-expedites in order to meet demand while maintaining optimum inventory levels.
• Attend and direct meetings with other departments when necessary to implement new procedures or resolve inter-departmental issues.
• Develop and implement lean supply chain methodologies with strategic suppliers that improve flexibility and reduce inventory liability.
• Manage surplus and obsolete inventory and actively disposition inventory if required.
• Identify and implement inventory reduction initiatives

Forecasting

• Use GAINS to create, adjust, and maintain product and component forecast to drive the Oracle planning system while analyzing supply and demand.
• Communicate with marketing to refine and improve data to accurately forecast product.
• Maintain a working knowledge of forecasting methods and processes and learn any new system enhancements provided in the forecasting system and recommended improvements.

Continuous Improvement Champion

• Define, drive, and implement process improvements and systems improvements for materials' activities.  Provide timely, accurate results to streamline and improve processes.
• Identify and implement best business material planning strategies to support corporate and divisional objectives, providing Graco a competitive advantage in all areas of the supply chain.
• Lead new product development from concept stage through successful product launch

Training

• Provide training on various material related concepts and processes to new Product Planners

Reporting

• Report and prepare presentations within areas on inventory and service levels
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What You Will Bring at Graco

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, or related field or equivalent combination of education and minimum 5 years of planning or related experience in a manufacturing/ distribution environment. 
• APICS CPIM certification required if Bachelor’s degree is not in Logistics and Supply Chain Planning field 

• High level of experience in planning product with multi-level BOM's
• Knowledge of Supply Chain and lean manufacturing concepts, practices, and procedures.
• Strong interpersonal, analytical, and statistical skills are required.