Production Planner/Inventory Control Specialist

Colt Electro Optics (Colt Optics), a division of Colt CZ Group North America, is looking for a Production Planner/Inventory Control Specialist.

Located in Traverse City, Michigan, Colt Optics is a global supplier of electro-optics, magnified optics, night vision systems and other weapons, accessories and enablers.

Position Summary: The Production Planner/Inventory Control Specialist will be responsible for managing the procurement materials, components, and services essential to our manufacturing operations. This multifaceted role combines production planning, inventory management, ERP system and quality assurance support. The ideal candidate will serve as a key liaison between internal departments to coordinate supply chain activities while helping optimize our manufacturing processes and system capabilities. This role will collaborate closely with suppliers, production teams, and internal stakeholders to drive efficiency and support organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain production progress and adjust schedules based on customer demand, capacity constraints, and material availability. Evaluate material requirements and generate purchase orders in accordance with production schedules and inventory policies. Resolve discrepancies related to orders, quantities, or billing in a timely and professional manner.

• Source and select suppliers based on quality, cost, delivery, and reliability; negotiate contracts, terms, and pricing as needed. Track supplier performance and managing relationships to ensure timely delivery and service quality.

• Analyze demand forecasts, usage patterns, and market trends to inform purchasing strategies and identify bottlenecks and recommend process improvements.

• Conduct regular cycle counts and annual physical inventories to ensure accuracy. Monitor inventory turnover rates and identify slow-moving or obsolete stock. Implement and maintain inventory control procedures and best practices as well as key metrics including accuracy, turnover and valuation.

• Participate in the implementation and configuration of ERP system modules and assist with validation during system deployment.

• Collaborate with Quality team to address material and production quality issues and support root cause analysis and corrective action processes. Participate in internal audits and quality system reviews.

• Support activities to ensure compliance with relevant ITAR, CMMC and quality standards and certifications.

Technical Skills Required:

• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and data analysis
• Strong understanding of production planning concepts including MRP, capacity planning, and scheduling
• Knowledge of inventory management principles including ABC analysis, cycle counting, and reorder points
• Experience with data analysis and reporting tools is a plus

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and 5-7 years of work experience
• Minimum 5 years of experience in production planning, inventory control, materials management within a manufacturing environment
• Familiarity with quality management concepts and tools
• High level of organization, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize competing tasks
• Knowledge of relevant supply chain regulations and industry best practices.