Production Planner

KL Talent Solutions is working on behalf of our client to recruit an experienced Production Planner to join their manufacturing operation in Sheffield. This is a hands-on planning role responsible for keeping production moving, maintaining strong on-time delivery performance and ensuring customers receive accurate updates on live orders. You'll work closely with production, dispatch and other departments to make sure materials, capacity and equipment are aligned with the production plan – and when something changes, you'll be expected to react quickly and keep things on track. The Role As Production Planner, you'll be responsible for:

• Developing and maintaining daily and weekly production schedules based on customer orders, demand, stock levels and available capacity
• Monitoring the production plan and completing daily time bookings
• Ensuring raw materials, equipment and resources are available to meet production requirements
• Identifying potential bottlenecks, delays and capacity issues before they impact delivery
• Working with the production team to resolve disruptions and productivity issues
• Providing customers with regular updates on live production orders
• Reporting production progress, delays and issues to management
• Implementing the transport plan and managing any required changes
• Maintaining regular communication with the dispatch team
• Reviewing production documentation prior to release
• Collecting and recording PODs for VAT and audit purposes
• Maintaining accurate electronic production and audit documentation
• Raising purchase orders as required

What We're Looking For We're looking for someone who understands how a busy manufacturing environment actually works – not just someone who can update a spreadsheet. You'll ideally have:

• Previous experience within production planning, manufacturing planning or production scheduling
• Strong working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems
• Experience with inventory, materials and capacity planning
• Strong numerical and analytical skills
• The ability to identify and resolve production bottlenecks
• Confidence communicating across production, dispatch, management and customers
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage changing priorities
• A good understanding of quality requirements within a manufacturing environment

You'll also need to be comfortable reacting when the original plan doesn't go to plan. Supply issues, equipment failures and changing customer requirements happen – you'll need to assess the impact, adjust schedules and work with the wider team to find a solution without compromising quality or delivery.