At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage production schedules and optimise processes for efficient output.
- Company: Join KNDS UK, a leader in military engineering with over 100 years of innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, pension contributions, half-day Fridays, and wellbeing initiatives.
- Other info: Be part of a team that values safety, accountability, and teamwork.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in production planning while working in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: GCSEs in Maths and English, plus 2-3 years of manufacturing planning experience.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
We currently have an opportunity for a Production Planner.
About KNDS UK: With over a century of engineering expertise and innovation, KNDS UK is a renowned world leader in rapidly deployable military bridging systems and a key partner in the UK MoD’s Boxer armoured vehicle programme. We are proud of our heritage and our reputation of providing the highest quality engineering solutions for over 100 years. As a trusted partner to military customers around the world, our employees are the very heart of our company. We have a skilled and experienced workforce dedicated to achieving excellence in all areas of the business such as Manufacturing, Engineering, Project Management and Business Support functions.
As our business evolves, we are looking to strengthen our workforce with talented and motivated individuals across a range of disciplines and currently have this opportunity available.
About the role: The primary purpose of this role is to bridge the gap between current shopfloor capabilities and strategic expansion goals, challenging existing processes to scale output efficiently. You will manage the daily production rhythm, translating the master schedule into realistic tactical plans while acting as an agile problem-solver to minimise milestone risks. You will be responsible for the oversight of production KPIs and the strategic management of sub-assembly inventory, ensuring optimal min/max thresholds are maintained to guarantee uninterrupted material flow.
Key duties include, but are not limited to:
- Daily Plan Management: Orchestrate daily production schedules, ensuring labour and machine capacity are optimised to match dynamic impacts.
- Proactive Escalation: Monitor the critical path of every build. You are responsible for identifying and escalating any deviation that indicates a potential miss of tactical milestones and providing recovery options.
- Shopfloor Discipline: Act as a support network on the shopfloor to enforce booking discipline. You will ensure that all production activities are recorded accurately and in real-time to maintain data integrity.
- Order Lifecycle Management: Oversee the end-to-end conversion of production orders, ensuring that release dates are strictly aligned with material availability and customer delivery dates.
- Managing Rework Orders and Activities through individual productions order to manage reworks and sign offs effectively.
- Maintain a high-frequency feedback loop with the Material Controller. You will assess current supply chain capabilities and constraints to manage expectations for the build plan.
- Manage and refine Min/Max levels for sub-assembly kits. You will implement data-driven triggers to ensure that high-velocity parts are always available while preventing capital tie-up in slow-moving stock.
- Oversee the management of picking requirements. You will ensure that the warehouse and logistics teams are perfectly synchronised with the build sequence, delivering "Just-in-Time" kits to the production line.
- Take full ownership of Schedule Adherence KPIs. You will not just report the numbers but provide the narrative behind them, identifying issues and proposing long-term solutions.
- Serve as the planning lead for external stakeholders. You will feed back production health reports to ensure the wider business is aligned with manufacturing reality.
What we’re looking for: Candidates must have the following essential qualifications and experience:
- GSCE in Maths and English at Level 4 and above or equivalent.
- 2-3 Years planning experience within a manufacturing environment.
- SAP ERP proficiency including BoM and Routing advanced knowledge.
- Microsoft Office Proficiency.
The following are desirable:
- APICS certified.
- Six Sigma/Lean Manufacturing Experience.
- Planning experience within the automotive industry.
- Previous experience leading a team.
- Inventory Management.
Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate the following skills and aptitudes:
- Customer focus: Understanding of our customers - Reliability & quality - Work transparently & constructively.
- Togetherness: Trust – Proactively share – Teamwork & diversity – Across borders.
- Safety: No compromise – Stop unsafe actions – Mutual support – Safe environment.
- Accountability: Integrity & ethics – Ownership – Truthful communication.
Why you should join us: When you become part of the KNDS UK team, you will enjoy employee benefits such as:
- Competitive salary.
- Attractive pension (4% employee contribution, 7% employer contribution).
- Half-day Friday.
- Life assurance scheme.
- Company sick pay scheme which increases with service.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
- Additional Holidays & Long Service rewards.
- Wellbeing initiatives, such as Free Fruit on Tuesday’s.
- Cycle-to-work Scheme.
- Free on-site car parking.
- On-site electric vehicle charging points.
We’re also very proud to be part of the Armed Forces Covenant since 2018, achieving their Silver Award in 2020 and Gold Award in 2024. We actively support and encourage service leavers, reservists and cadets to join our team, recognising military skills and qualifications in our recruitment and selection process.
If you are passionate about Production Planning and eager to contribute to a thriving workplace environment, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity. We look forward to receiving your application!
Production Planner in Stockport employer: KNDS Defence UK Limited
At KNDS UK, we pride ourselves on being a leading employer in the defence sector, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee well-being is reflected in our competitive salary packages, generous pension contributions, and unique benefits like half-day Fridays and wellbeing initiatives. With a strong focus on professional development and a culture that values teamwork and accountability, we provide our employees with meaningful opportunities to grow and contribute to our mission of delivering excellence in military engineering solutions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Production Planner in Stockport
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their products and values, especially how they relate to production planning. This will help you tailor your answers and show you're genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice common interview questions related to production planning. Think about your past experiences and how they align with the role. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you on their radar as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Production Planner in Stockport
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your planning experience and any relevant qualifications, like SAP ERP proficiency, to show us you're a great fit for the Production Planner role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about production planning and how your background aligns with our needs. Share specific examples of how you've tackled challenges in previous roles to demonstrate your problem-solving skills.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don't just list your responsibilities; highlight your achievements! Use metrics where possible to quantify your impact, such as improvements in production efficiency or successful project completions. We love seeing how you’ve made a difference!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team at KNDS UK!
How to prepare for a job interview at KNDS Defence UK Limited
✨Know Your Production Planning Basics
Before the interview, brush up on your production planning fundamentals. Understand key concepts like daily plan management, inventory control, and KPI oversight. This will help you speak confidently about how your experience aligns with the role.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be prepared to discuss specific examples where you've acted as an agile problem-solver in a manufacturing environment. Highlight situations where you identified issues and proposed effective solutions, especially regarding tactical milestones.
✨Familiarise Yourself with SAP ERP
Since proficiency in SAP ERP is essential for this role, make sure you can discuss your experience with it. Be ready to explain how you've used it for Bill of Materials (BoM) and routing in past roles, as this will demonstrate your technical capability.
✨Emphasise Teamwork and Communication
Given the importance of collaboration in this position, prepare to share examples of how you've worked effectively within a team. Discuss how you’ve maintained a high-frequency feedback loop with colleagues and external stakeholders to ensure alignment and success.
