Production Planner

From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 — all while keeping the heart of “People Build Businesses” alive.

Our talented people are at the core of our growth, constantly reinventing the Sonoco wheel with brilliant solutions every year. Today we are a world leader in global packaging solutions with diversified operations in over 34 countries. We're extremely proud of our portfolio of brands, our achievements in sustainability and industrialization and the groundbreaking work accomplished by our people. 

This position is an important part of Sonoco’s Paper Division supply chain staff and serves as the liaison between the customer service team and the production facility to ensure paperboard orders are received, scheduled, and delivered.   This opening is for a Planner I or II.  Level will be based on candidate experience and business needs.  Responsibilities include: 

Production Planning 

• Develop and implement master production plans for assigned mills 
• Create and implement daily production schedules for assigned mills and reconcile based on adjustments needed to meet customer / inventory requirements 
• Responsible for trimming and releasing of orders to production schedule and shop floor 

• Capable of scheduling / trimming multiple machine paper mills and conducting business with those mill’s customer base
• Proactively anticipates plant operating schedule needs / changes by understanding customer order cycles and plant resources (machine capabilities, shift schedules and staffing) 
• Manages resolution of scheduling conflicts between Customers, Paper mills and Logistics 
• Manages machine cycles to achieve increased throughput and efficiency 

• Provides 24 hour coverage for Customers (emergencies) and Paper mills (trimming & machine scheduling)     
• Review and manage paper mills’ inventory – keep aged and not needed inventory to minimal levels
• Work with customer service and account representatives to understand and implement stocking levels based on customer needs
• Review forecast and compare to mill sequencing; work with master scheduler to adjust as needed

Manages Production Planning for Off-Line Converting 

• Coordination of trials 
• System Management 
• Maintain production capability data in OptStudio 

• Utilizes Oracle and Data Warehouse report to anticipate problems that either impact or could impact  planning and scheduling accuracy
• Work with offsite warehouses and converters to manage inventory, sequence schedules, and ensure on time shipping

Working Capital 

• Manages schedule execution to meet Divisional working capital goals & Customer requirements 
• Responsible for evaluating & recommending inventory levels and safety stock 
• Manages the reduction / disposition of aged inventory for specified mills to meet Divisional and Corporate goals 
• Responsible for disposition of unplanned inventory over-runs, sidetrim, oddlot and returned sales 

Required Skills/Experience:

• Strong attention to detail, demonstrated ability to work independently with high accuracy and efficiency
• Strong people skills - ability to work with a variety of disciplines and personality types.
• Analytical and troubleshooting skills 
• Excellent telephone and email demeanor 
• Must be proficient with email and Microsoft Office suite including Teams and Excel
• Familiarity with paper manufacturing characteristics such as shipment weight, lineal feet, grade, and caliper is preferred
• 4 year degree preferred; equivalent 3-5 years’ experience required
• Minimum 3 years of experience in Supply Chain, Office Administration, or other comparable field

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We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.