An exciting opportunity has arisen within Refresco for a Production Planner to join our Supply Chain team. This role is responsible for developing effective production plans, optimising manufacturing capacity, and proactively identifying and resolving potential supply chain risks to ensure excellent customer service and operational efficiency.
Production Planner
Kegworth
Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 5pm, Friday 8:30am – 4pm
Permanent
- Annual bonus
- Annual pay review
- Early finish on a Friday
- 28 days annual leave + bank holidays
- Purchase up to an additional 3 days holidays
- Life assurance
- Employee referral scheme - earn a bonus for referring your friends or family
- GroceryAid – a support service offering financial, legal, wellbeing and practical support, advice and counselling
- Cheers – access to our award winning benefits platform offering discounts, free perks, and well-being tools for all employees
- Free onsite parking, and discounted products
About the Role
Reporting to the Planning Manager, the Production Planner is responsible for ensuring the optimal balance between customer service, production efficiency, inventory levels, and manufacturing capacity. The role focuses on developing robust production plans that maximise factory utilisation while minimising costs and supply risks. A key aspect of this role is proactive problem solving—anticipating potential constraints before they impact customer service, identifying risks within the supply chain and manufacturing process, and implementing preventative actions to maintain operational performance.
Here are your key tasks and responsibilities as a Production Planner at Refresco:
- Develop and maintain short, medium, and long-term production and capacity plans, ensuring customer demand is met while optimising factory utilisation and service levels.
- Translate sales forecasts into achievable production schedules, planning stock builds around maintenance shutdowns, seasonal demand, and promotional activities.
- Proactively identify and mitigate supply, capacity, material, labour, and service risks through scenario planning, trend analysis, and effective contingency planning.
- Investigate stock shortages, service issues, and planning variances, implementing corrective actions and collaborating with cross-functional teams to resolve operational challenges.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across planning processes, systems, and reporting, supporting automation opportunities and inventory optimisation to improve efficiency and reduce working capital.
- Monitor and analyse key planning KPIs, ensuring data accuracy and providing insight-based recommendations to improve service levels, plan adherence, capacity utilisation, and overall business performance.
About You
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and implement effective solutions.
- Excellent planning and organisational skills, with an understanding of production planning and S&OP processes.
- Ability to analyse data, identify trends, and make informed decisions to support operational performance.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, building effective relationships across functions.
- Proactive and resilient, with the ability to manage risks and deliver successful outcomes.
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems (e.g. SAP) and strong numerical skills would be advantageous.
Ultimately, we encourage everyone to role model our core values of agility, responsibility, passion, excellence, and entrepreneurship as we believe these are what has made Refresco successful so far.
Refresco is the global independent beverage solutions provider for Global, National and Emerging brands, and retailers with production in Europe, North America, and Australia.
Refresco offers an extensive range of product and packaging combinations from juices to carbonated soft drinks and mineral waters in carton, PET, Aseptic PET, cans, and glass.
Refresco continuously searches for new and alternative ways to improve the quality of its products and packaging combinations in line with consumer and customer demand, environmental responsibilities, and market demand
Refresco is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and has more than 13,500 employees. www.refresco.com .
Our drinks on every table. That's the Refresco vision. We’re a global business and currently produce 12 billion litres of soft drinks from 64 manufacturing plants in 12 countries and we’re only just getting started.
We’re the proud owners of six drinks manufacturing sites within the UK. Our UK business provides a great place to work for over 1,800 employees, who produce private label soft drinks and fruit juices for all the leading retailers.
Whether it’s packed in cartons, bottles or cans, we ensure that our products are made to the highest quality standards. Our products get where they need to be when they need to get there to meet the needs of our high-profile customers.
Production Planner in Kegworth employer: Refresco
REFRESCO in Bridgwater is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee development and fosters a collaborative work culture. With a focus on continuous improvement, employees are encouraged to enhance their skills through hands-on experience and training, while enjoying the benefits of working in a dynamic environment that values innovation and operational excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Production Planner in Kegworth
✨Join Local Manufacturing Groups
Getting involved in local manufacturing groups or associations can seriously boost your visibility. These groups often have insider info on job openings and networking events, plus they help you connect with like-minded folks in the industry. Check out what's happening in your area!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Practical Spaces
Consider participating in workshops or open days at manufacturing companies. It's a great way to show off your hands-on skills in a real-world environment and can sometimes lead to job offers right on the spot. Keep an eye on announcements from local manufacturers for these opportunities!
✨Leverage the Power of Internships
While you're looking for full-time positions, don't underestimate the power of internships! Even if you don't see a direct role, securing an internship at a company can open doors to future jobs. Many manufacturing firms prefer to hire from their intern pool, so it's definitely worth considering.
✨Apply Directly Through Company Websites
When you find a role at a company you love, like Refresco, apply directly on their website. This way, you’re more likely to be noticed by the hiring team. Plus, showing that you took the time to seek out their application process highlights your genuine interest in the firm!
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the manufacturing-production sector, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills and experience. Make sure your CV features any relevant qualifications, such as certifications in machinery operation or production management, and don’t forget about any specific systems or software you’re familiar with. This can really set you apart!
Emphasise Teamwork and Communication:Working in manufacturing often means being part of a larger team. Highlight your experience in collaborative projects or environments where communication was key. Maybe you have experience with lean manufacturing principles? Talk about how you worked with your team to improve productivity and maintain quality.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to Refresco specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!
Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!
How to prepare for a job interview at Refresco
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with Refresco, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.
✨Technical Questions Are Key
Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.
✨Align Your Values with Quality and Safety
In a full-time role, companies like Refresco value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.
