Production Planner

This is what you will do:

• The Production Planners role is to build and maintain a detailed integrated schedule for the BDS manufacturing facility, to coordinate equipment usage for batch production as well as all indirect activities, including maintenance, calibrations, validation. 
• This role is also responsible for ensuring that materials are available on time in full to produce drug substance at ADMF based on a detailed schedule. The Production Planner will use SAP MRP to identify material requirements and collaborate with Global procurement and Site operations to resolve any supply risk.
• This role must ensure effective interaction with the Supply chain, Manufacturing, Warehouse, Tech Services, Finance, Procurement and Quality departments regarding finite planning, material availability, schedule adherence and acts as a single point of contact to plan all process orders, batch production and ancillary activities.

You will be responsible for:

• Planning
  • Liaise with the production master planner, maintenance planner and manufacturing shift operations to build and maintain and communicate a live finite production schedule which meets the required batch output as agreed with Supply Chain through the Sales and Operations Planning process.
  • Handle a structured business process to identify assess and include all routine and non-routine (non-standard) work into the production schedule.
  • Communicate the coordinated schedule optimally to all activity owners and stakeholders to ensure right first-time execution and completion of tasks, preventing deviations and investigations.
  • Ensure all calibration and maintenance plans are translated into specific tasks and communicated to the production areas so that equipment can be maintained in a timely and compliant manner.
  • Interface with SAP and electronic batch records to set up process orders for batch production and coordinate dispensing and delivery of all raw materials with Warehouse and Operations.
  • Use finite scheduling and process models to create what-if scenarios to enable ramp up of production cadence, optimise product changeover and plan for lead-in and recovery from facility shutdowns.

• Materials management to support Drug substance production at ADMF
  • Ensuring within the supply plan that materials are planned accurately as well as ensuring communication and escalation of material availability within the plant.
  • Liaise directly with all elements of the manufacturing process, (Planning, Warehouse, Engineering, Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC)) to supervise, report, and drive schedule adherence to the plan for material availability.
  • Consistently deliver agreed service
• Maintain SAP MRP for the Biologics manufacturing to drive optimum inventory level of Raw material and Single use components at the site.
  • Support new Materials introduction - work with the team involved to ensure successful introduction of new material for commercial use at ADMF
  • Master Data Management - Partner / Collaborate with Master Data Management in relation to material and production master data and associated processes
  • Maintain process order and material consumption in line with our cGMP processes
• Communicate operational status regularly to site management at the appropriate level of detail. Communications will be both written documents, and in formal and informal oral presentations.
• Applies analytical skills to evaluate and interpret complex situations/problems using multiple sources of information
• May be responsible for specific programs and/or projects
  • Support continuous improvement initiatives by identifying areas needing improvement, recommending strategies for improvement, and implementing those strategies once approved
  • Assists with the preparation of project plans and handles projects to successful and timely completion.
• Write and support Change controls, deviations and CAPA’s.
• Embrace Alexion Core Competencies.

You will need to have:

• 2-5 years’ experience
• Skilled and experienced in use of planning/ scheduling tools (i.e., Orchestrate) at a detailed level.
• Experienced at a working level with SAP or similar enterprise systems.
• Significant experience working in a GMP manufacturing environment, preferably biopharma, in a role in which coordination, communication and working with minimal direction were key aspects.
• Understanding of cGMP and raw material planning requirements.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Customer service oriented, self -directed, responsible, and able to work on problems involving various cross-functional groups.
• Ability to strive for results independently and adapt to rapidly changing priorities. Demonstrated ability to expedite and drive schedule adherence on an ongoing basis

We would prefer for you to have:

• BA/BSc. in a scientific field or equivalent experience preferred.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.