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- Tasks: Create and manage production schedules in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.
- Company: Join an award-winning chilled and frozen food manufacturer with a dynamic team.
- Benefits: Enjoy a full-time, permanent role with competitive pay and growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by ensuring timely production and delivery during peak seasons.
- Qualifications: Experience in production planning and strong analytical skills are essential.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for continuous improvement and system enhancements.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Our award-winning company - a leading chilled and frozen food manufacturer - is recruiting for a Production Planner to develop and maintain efficient production schedules to meet customer demand within a fast-paced chilled and frozen food manufacturing environment.
Location: Northern Ireland
Department: Operations / Supply Chain
Reports To: Production Manager / Supply Chain Manager
Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent
Role PurposeThe Production Planner is responsible for developing and maintaining efficient production schedules to meet customer demand within a fast-paced chilled and frozen food manufacturing environment. The role also plays a key part in the effective use, maintenance, and ongoing development of the ERP system to support accurate planning, stock control, and operational decision-making. In addition, the role oversees the annual seasonal stock build and the coordinated despatch of this stock during the peak trading period each December.
Key Responsibilities- Production Planning
- Create, issue, and maintain daily and weekly production schedules using ERP-generated sales forecasts, confirmed orders, and capacity constraints.
- Coordinate with Production, Engineering, Technical/QA, Procurement, and Sales teams to manage plan changes and resolve issues promptly.
- Monitor production output through ERP reporting and adjust plans as required to ensure customer orders are fulfilled on time.
- Plan labour allocation and machine utilisation to maximise efficiency and reduce downtime.
- Schedule chilled and frozen production runs, considering shelf life, shift patterns, product segregation and storage capacity.
- Seasonal Stock Build & December Despatch Management
- Plan and oversee the annual seasonal stock-build programme within the ERP system, ensuring sufficient production volumes are achieved ahead of peak December demand.
- Coordinate with procurement, production, warehouse, and logistics teams to ensure materials, capacity, and storage requirements are accurately reflected in the system during the stock-build period.
- Manage the controlled and timely despatch of seasonal stock throughout December using ERP despatch and order management functionality.
- Maintain accurate system-based scheduling, stock visibility, and order tracking to ensure seasonal orders are fulfilled in full and on time.
- Review ERP data following the seasonal period to evaluate performance and recommend system or process improvements for future years.
- ERP Systems & Process Development
- Act as a key user of the ERP system for production planning, scheduling, and stock management activities.
- Ensure master data accuracy, including bills of materials, routings, lead times, yields, capacities, and production parameters.
- Identify opportunities to improve planning accuracy, efficiency, and visibility through better use of ERP functionality.
- Support the development, testing, and implementation of ERP enhancements, upgrades, or new modules relevant to planning and supply chain operations.
- Work closely with IT, system providers, and internal stakeholders to resolve ERP-related issues and improve system performance.
- Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for ERP planning processes.
- Provide ERP system support and training to colleagues as required to ensure consistent and effective system use.
- Communication & Coordination
- Attend daily and weekly production meetings and provide updates on production schedules, ERP data accuracy, and seasonal stock status.
- Communicate plan changes to production and support teams in real time, ensuring system updates are completed promptly.
- Liaise with Technical/QA regarding specifications, changeovers, and compliance requirements within the ERP framework.
- Data Management & Reporting
- Maintain accurate, timely, and reliable planning data within ERP systems.
- Produce routine and seasonal stock-build progress reports using ERP and supporting data tools.
- Review production performance, downtime, variances, and forecast accuracy using system-generated reports.
- Develop and maintain KPI dashboards relating to schedule adherence, throughput, stock levels, and seasonal despatch performance.
- Compliance & Standards
- Ensure all planning and system-related activities comply with BRCGS, HACCP, and customer audit requirements.
- Maintain accurate ERP records supporting full traceability and audit readiness.
- Participate in continuous improvement initiatives across planning, systems, and operations.
- Experience in production planning or scheduling within food manufacturing (chilled/frozen desirable).
- Strong understanding of capacity planning, workflow, and factory processes.
- Proven experience using ERP systems for production planning, scheduling, and stock control.
- Experience maintaining and improving ERP master data and planning parameters.
- Strong Excel skills and confidence working with large data sets.
- Awareness of BRCGS, HACCP, and food safety requirements.
- Experience managing seasonal production peaks, stock build programmes, or time-sensitive despatch operations (particularly during December).
- Highly organised with excellent attention to detail, particularly in system data accuracy.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate data into actionable plans.
- Ability to work under pressure, particularly during seasonal production and despatch periods.
- Effective communicator across multiple departments and technical levels.
- Confident system user with a continuous improvement mindset.
- 3rd Level qualification in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
- Eligibility to work in the UK.
- Experience supporting ERP implementations, upgrades, or system optimisation projects.
- Data analysis, forecasting, or demand planning experience.
- Experience in chilled and frozen production environments.
- Relevant supply chain or planning qualifications (e.g. CIPS, APICS).
- Exposure to lean manufacturing or continuous improvement methodologies.
- Proactive, with the ability to anticipate production, system, or seasonal challenges.
- Adaptable to fluctuating demand and evolving system requirements.
- Strong sense of ownership and accountability for planning data and outcomes.
- Collaborative and team-focused, with a willingness to support colleagues in system use and process improvement.
Production Planner in Castlewellan employer: TS Foods Ltd
Contact Detail:
TS Foods Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Production Planner in Castlewellan
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the food manufacturing industry, especially those who work with production planning. You never know who might have a lead on a job or can give you insider info about the company.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your ERP system knowledge. Since this role heavily relies on ERP for planning and scheduling, being able to discuss your experience confidently will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your analytical skills! Be ready to discuss how you've used data to improve production processes in the past. Companies love candidates who can turn numbers into actionable plans.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Production Planner in Castlewellan
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Production Planner role. Highlight your experience in production planning, especially in chilled or frozen food manufacturing, and show how your skills align with our needs.
Show Off Your ERP Skills: Since the role involves using ERP systems, don’t forget to mention any relevant experience you have with these systems. Talk about how you've used them for production planning or stock control in the past.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your key achievements and skills at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people and shows that you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at TS Foods Ltd
✨Know Your ERP Systems
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of ERP systems, especially how they relate to production planning and stock management. Be ready to discuss any experience you've had with ERP systems in previous roles, as this will show your potential employer that you're familiar with the tools they'll expect you to use.
✨Showcase Your Planning Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully developed and maintained production schedules in the past. Highlight any specific challenges you faced, particularly during peak periods, and explain how you overcame them. This will demonstrate your ability to handle the fast-paced environment they operate in.
✨Communicate Effectively
Since the role involves liaising with multiple departments, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Think about how you would communicate plan changes or coordinate with teams like Production and Procurement. Good communication skills can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Be Ready for Data Discussions
Expect questions about data management and reporting, especially regarding production performance and stock levels. Brush up on your Excel skills and be prepared to discuss how you've used data to make informed decisions in your previous roles. This will show that you can translate data into actionable plans.