The Woods business was established in 1909 and continues to manufacture in Colchester, United Kingdom. We have around 250 people across all business functions from sales through design and product assembly & testing, as well as businesses in USA, UK, Germany & Singapore.
Woods is a brand of Fläkt Group which is an international leader in wider HVAC products, systems, services, and solutions. As part of the wider group, Woods products are sold into multiple global applications through various routes to market including Group Companies, Agents & Distributors, Key Accounts as well as direct B2B.
The Colchester site is also the Centre of Excellence for the group for all Axial, Air Movement and Fire Safety products and serves to enable product & system sales in Building Services, Industrial, Original Equipment, and Tunnel & Metro applications globally. Our brand and product range is internationally recognised and flexible, from short-lead-time standard products through to technically complex design-to-order products. Manufacturing activities on site in Colchester include Assembly, Product Test, Stamping, Machining, Fabrication, and metal forming.
At Woods Air Movement, our culture and values are at our core:
- Ambition: We set ambitious targets, going the extra mile to achieve them and strive for excellence in everything that we do.
- Entrepreneurship: We challenge the status quo and are proactive in finding ways to achieve our objectives. We take initiative, work sustainability, getting things done efficiently and effectively.
- Accountability: We say what we deliver, and we deliver what we say. We behave with integrity and have a strong moral compass.
- Teamwork: We work together as a team, are transparent, inclusive, and leverage the diverse resources we have in the Group.
Main Purpose of Role
To develop and maintain integrated material and production plans that optimise service, cost, inventory and manufacturing efficiency, ensuring customer demand is met through effective coordination of supply, production and capacity across the business.
Your Accountability
- Develop and maintain integrated material and production plans that optimise service levels, cost efficiency, inventory control and manufacturing performance.
- Control and monitor the flow of sales and work orders through the MRP system (Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012) to ensure accurate and timely processing.
- Manage and update order acknowledged dates to maintain alignment with customer and production schedules.
- Oversee Action Messages within the MRP system, coordinating responses and process adjustments to resolve issues promptly.
- Establish and implement materials planning processes and parameters to meet agreed product lead times in collaboration with product management and sales.
- Define internal planning processes to set appropriate fixed planning horizons for suppliers and manufacturing operations.
- Coordinate supply, production and capacity planning to ensure customer demand is consistently met.
- Report on Sales Order On-Time Delivery and monitor Late Backlog/Order Book to drive continuous improvement.
- Apply inventory management principles to balance stock levels with production requirements and purchasing activities.
- Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance planning accuracy and operational efficiency.
Your Profile
Experience
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in manufacturing environments, preferably within low volume, high mix, complex engineering sectors.
- Proven autonomy in managing production, materials, capacity and inventory with a sound understanding of purchasing processes.
- Experience working with MRP systems, specifically Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, to control order flow and planning activities.
Qualifications
- No specific qualifications required.
Skills & Competencies
- Applies advanced planning techniques to optimise production schedules and material availability, ensuring business objectives are met.
- Builds effective cross-functional relationships to facilitate seamless coordination between supply chain, production and sales teams.
- Demonstrates strong problem-solving capabilities to identify and resolve planning issues, minimising disruptions.
- Utilises KPI improvement and continuous improvement methodologies to enhance planning performance and operational outcomes.
- Employs strong Excel skills for data analysis, reporting and decision support to drive informed planning actions.
This job description is not regarded to be totally exhaustive of all duties and activities required by the
In Return We Offer The Following Package
- Competitive salary
- 25 days Holiday (+ bank holidays)
- Hybrid Working
- Christmas Shutdown
- 4% Pension Scheme
- Life Assurance Scheme
- Company Sick Pay Scheme
- Enhanced Family Friendly Benefits
- Employee Discount Scheme
- Holiday Purchase Scheme
- Free Tea & Coffee
- Early finish on Fridays
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Woods Sports & Social Club (voluntary option to take part in events/activities for an additional small charge)
- Long Service Awards
- Free Car Parking
- Employee Assistance Programme & Access to Mental Health Support
- Learning and Development Opportunities
Equal Opportunities:We are an equal opportunities employer, recruiting individuals on their suitability for the role, qualifications and experience. We welcome applications from all communities and backgrounds.
Due to limits on sponsorship allocations, we are not currently able to offer sponsorship for this position. Therefore, applicants who do not have the right to work in the UK, and/or require visa sponsorship to continue working in the UK, cannot be considered for this role.
No recruitment agencies please
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Production Planner in Colchester employer: Woods Air Movement
Woods Air Movement is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Colchester where innovation meets collaboration. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, we provide opportunities for professional advancement while working on impactful Defence projects. Our supportive culture encourages teamwork and open communication, making it a rewarding place to build your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Production Planner in Colchester
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Some tips for your application 🫡
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How to prepare for a job interview at Woods Air Movement
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with Woods Air Movement, 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.
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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!
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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.
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