Supply Planner (Wiltz) at Mars, Incorporated in Fort Smith, Arkansas

Job Description:

Job Description:

Job: Supply Planner

Shift: Days (Monday - Friday 6am-2:30pm) On call

Location: Mars Petcare (Fort Smith, AR)

Mars Petcare is looking for a Supply Planner to join our exciting pet food business at a Fort Smith, AR, manufacturing plant. Supply Planner plans, controls, and optimizes product stocks that match production needs to meet customers' demands, seeking to make the best alternative possible. We focus on the unique needs of cats and dogs. Our obsession with detail allows us to deliver precise, effective nutrition and help them become their magnificent best.

As part of our overall total compensation package, Mars Petcare offers a competitive benefits package to all associates: Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance, Short- & Long-Term Disability, and 401k match. Associates are also immediately eligible (based on hire date) for up to three weeks of vacation, 12 Paid Holidays per year, Sick Pay, Maternity & Parental Leave, and annual bonus earning potential, plus many other ancillary benefits not listed here.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop production schedules that optimize customer service levels.


• Develop adetailed understanding of the manufacturing constraints and capabilities of the value streams being planned.


• Proactively identify potential supply/demand issues and communicate these appropriately, depending on impact severity, in a timely manner through the appropriate channels.


• Develop and revise schedules to comply with manufacturing constraints and guidelines. Schedules should optimize customer service while also considering staffing and materials.


• Participate in weekly MPS (Master Production Scheduling) meetings with Inventory Planning, Logistics, Managers, PPIs, and maintenance. Communicate recommended production schedules.


• Issue and communicate special instructions to, and interface with Value Stream managers, shift leads, process techs, and team members regarding changes in production schedules and co-ordination of production. Establish priorities for run order.


• Co-ordinate and communicate necessary production schedule changes between the value streams, inbound raw and pack, outbound and QF&S to assure most efficient scheduling of line trials, downtime for repairs, installations, and changeovers.


• Prepare weekly production reports comparing actual versus scheduled production.


• Drive process enhancements, either through new systems, additional functionality, or procedure changes that will increase business effectiveness.


• Displays a high degree of initiative and participation within the area towards meeting the area objectives.


• Attend Wet Project Review meetings to stay aware of new product/family timelines and how to incorporate those into the current production plan.


• Integrate new items into SAP as well as sequencing models.


• Coordinate with a master planner to identify required changes to seasonal inventory pre-builds, production rebalancing, and production shift requirements.


• Work to identify and resolve supply, capacity, and product age issues with recommendations to the Segment Planning Manager


• Manually analyze and adjust SAP daily to eliminate old or unneeded planned and processed orders (COID clean-up).


• Monitor SAP for finished good production that doesn't have an order to process against. Create an order and manually process the finished goods.


• Host weekly meetings with site product distribution leadership to plan the flow of thefinished product.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High level of demonstrated computer end-user skills, i.e., Excel and Word.


• PowerPoint required. Working knowledge of SAP.


• Excellent communication and leadership skills and the ability to negotiate, persuade, and analyze are necessary.


• Ability to have strong relationships with line managers, process techs, team leads, and other site leaders.


• 2 years of experience in amanufacturing role and/or 2-year technical degree.


• High level of patience and problem-solving skills are required and the ability to troubleshoot new computer programs.


• High School Diploma or GED


• Other duties as directed by the manager

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars is a family-owned business with over a century of history, making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With almost $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world's best-loved brands: M&M's®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, UNCLE BEN'S®, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA®. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD® Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl®, VCA® and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles - Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom - inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.