Inside Sales and Planning Representative

Position Summary

ICS is a manufacturer of custom cables, harnesses, electro-mechanical assemblies, and industrial panels. We are a turn-key supplier supporting customers from design through manufacturing, testing, and delivery of complex interconnect solutions.

This position is primarily responsible for production scheduling and planning, with additional responsibility for inside sales and customer coordination. The role ensures that daily production plans are aligned with customer demand, material availability, and monthly revenue targets.

The Inside Sales & Planning Representative works closely with the Production Manager to prioritize work, manage capacity, and execute schedules that support on-time delivery and revenue goals. This role also supports customer communication, quoting, and order management to ensure accurate commitments and strong customer service.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to balance planning responsibilities with customer interaction in a fast-paced, custom manufacturing environment.

Success in this role is defined by schedule accuracy, alignment to monthly revenue targets, on-time delivery performance, and effective coordination between production, sales, and customers.

This person values accountability, responsiveness, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

The essential functions of the job include:
• Leading daily production scheduling and planning activities
• Aligning production priorities with monthly revenue targets
• Coordinating closely with the Production Manager on execution
• Supporting customer orders, quoting, and communication
• Maintaining accurate ERP system data and reporting

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field (or equivalent experience)

Experience:
• 2–5 years of experience in production scheduling, planning, inside sales, or a manufacturing environment

Knowledge:
• Strong understanding of production scheduling, MRP/ERP systems, and order flow
• Knowledge of manufacturing operations and supply chain coordination
• Experience in a custom or engineered-to-order environment preferred

Skills:
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to prioritize and manage competing demands
• Effective communication and cross-functional coordination skills
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and ERP systems
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy

Job Responsibilities

Functional Area 1: Production Scheduling & Planning (Primary Focus)

• Develop and manage daily and weekly production schedules aligned with demand and capacity
  • Prioritize work in coordination with the Production Manager to meet delivery and revenue targets
  • Schedule raw materials and purchased components from release through production (“billet to box”)
  • Review and respond to MRP messages on a daily basis
  • Identify capacity and material constraints and drive resolution
  • Release and manage production orders
  • Monitor schedule performance and adjust as needed to support on-time delivery

Functional Area 2: Revenue Alignment & Execution

• Align production schedules with monthly revenue targets
  • Partner with leadership to identify risks and gaps to achieving revenue goals
  • Support actions to recover schedule delays or production shortfalls
  • Participate in daily/weekly alignment meetings to track performance

Functional Area 3: Inside Sales & Order Management

• Support quoting (RFQs) and communicate accurate delivery commitments
  • Process and manage customer orders, changes, and order acknowledgments
  • Provide timely updates to customers regarding order status and delivery
  • Maintain backlog accuracy and support order prioritization
  • Ensure alignment between customer expectations and operational capabilities

Functional Area 4: Materials & Continuous Improvement

• Coordinate with purchasing and suppliers to resolve material shortages
  • Support inventory control and lead time reduction efforts
  • Analyze trends in production, delivery, and order flow
  • Create and maintain reports to support planning and performance tracking
  • Participate in continuous improvement (CI) initiatives

Task List:

• Execute daily production scheduling as first priority each day
  • Coordinate closely with Production Manager on priorities and constraints
  • Monitor backlog, production schedules, and shipment commitments
  • Communicate schedule updates internally and externally as needed
  • Analyze MRP data and respond to system messages
  • Support customer communication and quoting activities
  • Track performance against revenue and delivery goals

Other responsibilities, initiatives, and ad-hoc projects as required.

Internal and External Relationships

• Internal: Sales, Engineering, Production, Planning, Purchasing, Quality, and Executive Leadership
• External: Customers and key suppliers (as needed for coordination and issue resolution)

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel objects, and communicate effectively. The employee may occasionally be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and may include exposure to a manufacturing floor environment.