Order Planner

Astrea Bioseparations Ltd is a global bioseparations company specializing in the research, development and manufacture of advanced bioseparation products including chromatography adsorbents and columns. Astrea Bioseparations has R&D laboratories in Cambridge, UK and manufacturing facilities on the Isle of Man, British Isles and Canton, Massachusetts, making the company one of the largest volume affinity adsorbent manufacturers in the world.

Astrea Bioseparations is honored to support the biopharmaceutical industry with products and services that help bring lifesaving and improving medicines to market. Regardless of process scale, we are ready to build Purity by Design into each process to ensure quality and speed to market.

The company is now entering an exciting period of growth as we work towards enabling our customers to bring advanced therapies to market using state-of-the-art-purification nanofiber-based technology.

Primary Function and Purpose:

To Support Astrea in meeting its business objectives: Coordinate the US planning and scheduling for the manufacture and shipment of all customers orders. Work closely with the Planning team to make sound business decisions that positively impact the ability to meet the needs of customers while satisfying quality, inventory, cost, and delivery requirements.

Planning

• Manages planning inputs for the US site: Sales orders, custom orders, shipments & inventory.
• Coordinates the planning interface with US customers through generation of sales order acknowledgements and shipment notifications.
• Using available system, translates the US sales demands into a production schedule, with consideration to:

• Prepares and distributes weekly production schedules / work order dispatch lists to the US.
• Monitors daily schedule status in the US and communicate scheduling problems or concerns to Management.
• Coordinated implementation and continued support of ERP system in the US, to ensure functions are aligned with other Astrea groups, (e.g MRP, bin locations, bar code scanners, label printers and other logistical ERP requirements).
• Participates in, or leads, the daily production meetings for the US.
• Confers with the Management to determine the status of schedules and materials to revise the US production schedule, as necessary, to meet customer demands.
• Assist management to resolve problems with late shipments, material shortages, customer schedule changes, and cancellations of US customer orders.
• Works with the planning team to propose and leads implementation of improved planning methods, tools, and reports.
• Prepares production KPIs as required.
• Supports data coordination with the planning team (from the Operations side) for the S&OP meeting.
• Supports the Isle of Man site with ERP system, including data inputting, use of bar code scanners, trouble shooting and ad hoc requirements as required by the planning team.
• Training of ERP functions & SOP writing to support the operations team.
• Special projects as assigned.

• Plans facility changes to ensure it is aligned with production plans, to minimise disruption to operations in the US.
• Keeps designated operators, engineers, sales, and other stakeholders informed of changes to production plans and schedule.
• Special projects as assigned.

• Work closely with Head of Production on capacity planning.
• Special Projects as assigned.

• Initiates and coordinates internal corrective action for internal quality problems related to planning and scheduling.
• Coordinates any quality document requirements for US operations.
• Special projects as assigned.

• Relevant degree as appropriate.
• Experience planning and scheduling a manufacturing facility.
• Fluency and proficiency in the practical application of MRP logic, scheduling logic, order policies, capacity planning, input/output control, product structures, routings, maintenance scheduling, etc.
• Experience of ERP system is essential, experience with use of Dynamic 365 is desirable.
• Knowledgeable in master scheduling, production planning and detailed scheduling, demand management, purchasing, and cost accounting techniques.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Highly organized and attention to detail.
• Superior analytical and problem-solving skills
• Exceptional communication and organizational skills required with the ability to work well with all levels of employees and internal departments in a diverse environment.
• Experience and familiarity with Lean Manufacturing concepts.