Job Title: Production Planner

Department: Operations Location: New London, CT Reports To: Production Manager

Job Summary

Sheffield Pharmaceuticals is seeking a highly collaborative and detail-oriented Production Planner to join our operations team. The Production Planner will play a pivotal role in ensuring smooth and efficient manufacturing by developing production schedules that align with customer demand, material availability, and production capacity. Success in this role will require exceptional communication and cross-functional coordination with teams such as Procurement, Production, QA, R&D, and Logistics to achieve company goals and deliver high-quality pharmaceutical products on time.

Key Responsibilities

• Production Scheduling:
  • Create, manage, and adjust production schedules to meet customer demands while minimizing downtime.
  • Communicate schedule changes proactively across relevant teams to maintain alignment and transparency.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  • Act as the central point of communication between Procurement, Production, QA, R&D, and Logistics to ensure alignment on priorities, timelines, and resource availability.
  • Participate in cross-functional meetings to address production constraints, resolve scheduling conflicts, and meet customer needs.
  • Partner with QA and R&D to coordinate production for new product launches or process changes, ensuring smooth integration into manufacturing schedules.
• Material Coordination:
  • Collaborate with the Procurement team to ensure timely availability of raw materials and packaging supplies.
  • Resolve material shortages or delays by working closely with suppliers and internal teams.
• Capacity Planning:
  • Analyze production capacity and labor availability to ensure feasible schedules are developed and executed.
  • Propose solutions to address capacity constraints or bottlenecks in collaboration with production leadership.
• BOM & Data Accuracy Management:
  • Create and update BOMs to ensure they accurately reflect materials, quantities, and production requirements.
  • Work with R&D, QA, and Procurement teams to include updates from new products, process changes, or material substitutions.
  • Audit BOMs regularly to ensure they match current production processes and material specifications.
  • Keep production schedules and material requirements in SAP accurate to support better procurement and inventory management.
• Performance Monitoring and Reporting:
  • Track and report production performance metrics, including schedule adherence, efficiency, and downtime.
  • Proactively identify deviations from plans and collaborate with teams to develop corrective actions.
• Continuous Improvement:
  • Drive initiatives to improve scheduling efficiency, reduce waste, and optimize workflows.
  • Work with cross-functional teams to enhance planning processes and integrate best practices.

Qualifications

• Experience:
  • 5-8 years of experience in production planning, with a proven track record of successful cross-functional collaboration. Experience in the pharmaceutical or chemical manufacturing industry is preferred.
• Skills:
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships across multiple departments.
  • Proficient in production planning software and ERP systems (experience with SAP is a plus).
  • Analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to identifying and resolving challenges.
  • Adaptable and organized, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks in a dynamic environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and pharmaceutical regulatory requirements.
• Experience working in cross-functional teams for process improvement or project execution.
• Lean manufacturing or Six Sigma certification.

Why Join Sheffield Pharmaceuticals?

At Sheffield Pharmaceuticals, we value teamwork, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. As a Production Planner, you'll work in a collaborative environment where cross-functional communication is the key to success. Join us to make a meaningful impact on healthcare solutions while advancing your professional growth.