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.

Job Purpose

To forecast, plan, and schedule assigned products to meet customer needs in the most timely and efficient manner. Meet customer service level objectives and planned inventory objectives.

Essential Duties

• Forecasting

• Maintain a working knowledge of forecasting methods and processes and learn any new system enhancements provided in the forecasting system and recommended improvements.

• Ensure GAINS system is maintained and that all exceptions are analyzed. Perform supply and demand analysis and incorporate it into the forecast. Generate reports and make adjustments if necessary.

• Communicate with marketing to refine and improve data to accurately forecast product.

• Planning

• 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).

• Plan capacity of assigned area and sub-contract work if necessary.

• Ability to identify opportunities to balance capacity between both machining and assembly resources.

• Negotiate with internal cross-functional teams on capacity utilization and sourcing.

• 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.

• Work with other departments to attain optimum assembly and machine capacity utilization.

• Purchasing

• 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.

• Ensure planning information is communicated with suppliers in a timely manner. Phase-out, delivery changes, etc.

• Proactively communicate supply shortages to appropriate personnel.

• Follow up with suppliers as necessary, to resolve delivery problems, cost changes, or quality issues.

• Work with suppliers on establishing Kanban agreements to reduce inventory and lead-time.

• Inventory

• Manage inventory to ensure cell objectives are met and in line with company objectives.

• Manage surplus and obsolete inventory and actively disposition inventory if required.

• Demonstrate the ability to identify and implement inventory reduction initiatives.

• Reporting

• Demonstrated report generation skills and ability to prepare presentations.

• Preproduction Planning

• Support new product development from concept stage through successful product launch

• Improvements

• Define, drive, and implement process improvements and systems improvements for materials' activities. Provide timely, accurate results to streamline and improve processes.

• Training

• Provide training on various material related concepts and processes to new material planners.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

Education/Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, or related field or equivalent combination of education and minimum 2 years of planning or related experience in a manufacturing/ distribution environment.

• Working towards APICS CPIM certification if Bachelor's degree is not in Logistics and Supply Chain Planning field

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Oracle or other ERP Windows-based system experience.

• Experience in planning product with multi-level BOM's

• Strong PC skills, including report generation skills (Cognos Impromptu, Access, etc.)

• Knowledge of Supply Chain and lean manufacturing concepts, practices, and procedures.

• Good written and verbal communication skills

Desired

• Demonstrate a general knowledge of machine types and capabilities within Graco.

• Ability to recognize basic cost saving opportunities and recommend to the appropriate personnel.

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Power to Be

At Graco, the Power to Be means providing the support, resources and freedom to pave your own way. Bring your unique attributes to the table, along with a commitment to being your best self, and you can be a part of a culture that rewards effort, celebrates uniqueness, and gives you the tools you need to succeed and become your best, fullest self along the way. Our culture empowers employees to chart their own career path. Our managers provide support and opportunities while offering freedom for employees to find their own Power to Be. Whether you decide to move up within the same department or expand to another cross-functional group, you will gain the well-rounded experience to succeed on your own terms.

Graco has excellent opportunities available to individuals who want to be part of a fast-moving, growing company that is committed to quality, innovation and solving fluid handling problems for our customers. Graco is proud to be named a Best Place to Work by Fortune Magazine in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022. Graco offers attractive compensation, benefits and career development opportunities. Graco's comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, stock purchase plan, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more.

Our company uses E-Verify to confirm the employment and eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

Proven Quality. Leading Technology. Launch your career with Graco!