Production Planner

Description

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose.

At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani® Italian cheeses and ricotta, Président® specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft® natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone’s® cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond® cheddar, and Parmalat® milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi’s®, Stonyfield Organic®, Brown Cow™, Oui®, Yoplait®, Go-Gurt®, :ratio®, Green Mountain Creamery®, and Mountain High®, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun®, Gopi®, and Arz®.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy. 

From your PASSION to ours

Midwest Yogurt, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Production Planner based in Reed City, Michigan.

The Plant Supply Planner / Production Scheduler is responsible for developing and executing production and supply plans that align customer demand, inventory objectives, and manufacturing capacity while optimizing operational efficiency and service performance. This role serves as a critical link between Operations, Logistics, Procurement, Warehousing, Quality, Customer Service, and Supply Planning to ensure finished goods are produced, deployed, and delivered in the right quantities and at the right time.

The position manages production scheduling, inventory planning, material availability, and product deployment while balancing customer requirements, capacity constraints, labor resources, and supply chain risks. The Plant Supply Planner proactively identifies potential disruptions, develops contingency plans, and drives cross-functional collaboration to maintain service levels, inventory targets, and overall plant performance. The role also supports and performs other duties assigned by management.

From your EXPERTISE to our

Key responsibilities for this position include: 

• Develop and maintain daily and weekly production schedules to support customer demand, inventory objectives, and operational efficiency.
• Balance production capacity, labor availability, material supply, and plant constraints to optimize schedule execution and asset utilization.
• Monitor schedule adherence, inventory levels, and product availability, implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Analyze forecasts, customer orders, inventory positions, and production performance to determine supply requirements and inventory strategies.
• Coordinate material availability with procurement and MRP functions to ensure uninterrupted production.
• Manage finished goods deployment to distribution locations while supporting transportation efficiency and customer service objectives.
• Serve as the primary planning liaison between Operations, Maintenance, Logistics, Warehousing, Procurement, Quality, Customer Service, and Supply Chain teams.
• Utilize ERP and planning systems to maintain planning data, manage exceptions, generate reports, and support decision-making.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on scheduling accuracy, inventory optimization, operational performance, and customer service.
• Provide backup support for planning functions, inventory management activities, plant shutdown planning, and special projects.

Requirements

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business, Logistics, Operations, Engineering, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in production planning, supply planning, scheduling, logistics, or manufacturing operations.
• Experience in food, dairy, beverage, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or high-volume manufacturing environments preferred.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in ERP/MRP and advanced planning systems (SAP, OMP, APO, Oracle, JD Edwards, or similar).
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
• Strong analytical, inventory management, capacity planning, and reporting capabilities.
• Thorough understanding of manufacturing operations and supply chain processes.

Core Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to prioritize and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills with a focus on accuracy and execution.
• Demonstrated leadership, accountability, and continuous improvement mindset.
• Commitment to quality, customer service, and operational excellence.

Preferred Qualifications

• APICS/ASCM CPIM Certification.
• SAP Production Planning (PP) experience.
• Experience with advanced planning and finite scheduling tools.
• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma experience.
• Dairy or food manufacturing experience.

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an Affirmative Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.