Production Planner - Bilingual English - Japanese

Seeking a detail-oriented Production Planner to coordinate production schedules and support Make-to-Stock (MTS) operations. The role focuses on balancing demand, capacity, and inventory to ensure efficient production, on-time delivery, and strong cross-functional communication.

• Review sales orders and forecasts to prioritize production based on delivery timelines, material availability, and capacity
• Plan and schedule daily production activities and product trials
• Maintain appropriate safety stock levels to meet customer and operational needs
• Monitor demand, supply constraints, and production status to identify scheduling risks
• Collaborate with Purchasing to track material availability through MRP and update forecasts
• Resolve issues related to materials, manpower, machinery, or planning affecting delivery timelines
• Communicate order status with Sales, Customer Service, Procurement, Production, Warehouse, and Shipping teams
• Support continuous improvement initiatives in production and engineering processes
• Prepare production status reports and planning metrics
• Participate in daily cross-functional production planning meetings
• Perform additional duties as assigned

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of manufacturing experience; production planning experience preferred
• Experience with MRP/ERP systems (JD Edwards preferred)
• Bilingual in Japanese and English  

Skills & Competencies

• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
• Ability to work independently and manage pressure in fast-paced environments
• Solid knowledge of manufacturing processes, inventory planning, and supply chain operations
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Close attention to detail and commitment to quality and safety
• Adaptability to changing priorities and production schedules

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft 365
• Experience with JD Edwards or similar MRP/ERP systems

• APICS certification

• Combination of office and manufacturing settings
• Regular computer work with occasional walking and reaching
• Ability to lift to 25 lbs occasionally
• The manufacturing environment may include both temperature-controlled and non-controlled areas.