Production Planner – Fabrication (Buyer/Planner)
Location: Alpharetta, GA (On-site)
Reports To: General Manager
Role
Plan and execute fabrication across a network of subcontract manufacturers. Translate engineering output into executable work—build the plan, issue technical POs from drawings/BOMs, manage inventory, and keep production on schedule.
This is a hands-on individual contributor role. No direct reports. Success is measured by on-time fabrication, clean inventory, and zero surprises.
What You’ll Do
Production Planning (Subcontract Fabrication)
- Plan production across ~25–30 active ETO/MTO jobs with ~4 core fabricators
- Sequence work and commit realistic delivery dates in a manual planning / semi-formal forecast environment (Sage X3)
- Align engineering releases with supplier capacity and project needs
Technical Buying (Drawings Executable POs)
- Convert drawings and BOMs into clear, complete fabrication POs (scope, materials, weld/coating requirements, deliverables)
- Ensure suppliers know exactly what to build—no ambiguity, no rework
- Maintain revision control and communicate changes cleanly to suppliers
Inventory Planning & Control ($1M)
- Set and manage min/max, EOQ, and replenishment for components and fabricated parts
- Allocate inventory to projects and spares based on priority
- Improve visibility, accuracy, and turns—reduce stockouts and excess/obsolete
Expediting & Schedule Recovery
- Own supplier schedules from PO through receipt
- Actively expedite and recover schedule when things slip
- Surface risks early and drive corrective action before they hit production
Cross-Functional Coordination
- Work closely with Engineering (heavy interface), Project Managers, and shop planning
- Keep a single, accurate view of what’s released, in process, and arriving
What Success Looks Like
- Fabricated components arrive on time and usable
- Inventory is accurate, right-sized, and allocated correctly
- Minimal expediting fire drills; issues identified early and resolved fast
- Clean handoffs from engineering suppliers operations
Qualifications
- 5–10 years in production planning, buyer/planner, or manufacturing coordination (3–5 considered)
- Direct experience with fabrication (weldments, stainless/carbon steel, coatings)
- Proven ability to read fabrication drawings and work from BOMs
- Experience writing technical POs for fabricated components
- Strong inventory planning fundamentals (min/max, EOQ, replenishment)
- Experience operating in manual or semi-manual MRP environments (Sage X3 or similar)
- Solid Excel skills
Environment
- 100% subcontract fabrication with established partner shops
- ETO/MTO, high-mix/low-volume work—planning judgment matters
- Manual planning discipline required; systems support, but don’t drive, decisions
What This Role Is Not
- Not a warehouse or inventory supervisor role
- Not logistics-only
- Not a pure buyer with no fabrication exposure
- Not a people management position
Bottom Line
You own the plan. You turn drawings into executable orders, align suppliers to that plan, and ensure the right material shows up when it’s needed.
If fabrication hits schedule and inventory stays clean, you’re doing it right.
it.
