Jobs › Crown Holdings

Manager, Plant Production Planning

Crown Holdings · Alsip, IL · Full time

Posted Sep 22, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about your experience planning production in a manufacturing plant.

What they are checking: Whether their planning background matches a plant with multiple lines and changing customer demand.

Tell me about a time you had to tell a customer or sales team you could not meet a date.

What they are checking: Whether they deliver bad news early and honestly with a recovery plan.

Tell me about a time you worked with several suppliers to keep a plant running.

What they are checking: Whether they can manage multiple source suppliers, which the posting calls out directly.

How do you keep production supervisors on board with a schedule they did not create?

What they are checking: Whether they build trust with operations so the schedule is followed instead of ignored.

What would you do

This role oversees receiving, shipping, scheduling and inventory. How would you organize those teams?

What they are checking: Whether they can lead several connected functions rather than only handling the schedule itself.

A key supplier tells you a shipment will be two weeks late. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they react with options like resequencing, alternate sources and early customer communication.

The Plant Manager wants to add a rush order that will disrupt the week. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they lay out the tradeoffs clearly so leadership can make an informed call.

About the work

How would you build a production schedule when customer orders, line capacity and materials all compete?

What they are checking: Whether they can balance demand, capacity and supply into a schedule the floor can actually run.

How do you decide on the right inventory levels for raw materials and finished goods?

What they are checking: Whether they weigh carrying cost against the risk of stockouts that stop production.

What ERP or planning systems have you used, and how did you make sure the data was accurate?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that a schedule built on bad system data will fail on the floor.

How do you measure whether your planning is working?

What they are checking: Whether they track metrics like schedule attainment, inventory turns and on-time delivery.

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The full job description

As published by Crown Holdings.

About Crown Crown Holdings, Inc. through it's subsidiaries, is a world leader in the metal packaging production process. We design and manufacture a wide range of innovative and sustainable metal packaging solutions and products. Our clients are some of the largest and most respected companies in the world. Crown is dedicated to building a team of highly talented, dedicated, and driven individuals. It's an exciting time to join our business because Crown offers you the opportunity to grow and develop your skills in an expanding industry. Crown was founded with the goal of valuing and promoting sustainability and this vision continues to be essential to our long-term future. Job Description: Position Overview: The Manager, Production Planning will handle all production planning activities for the state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located in Alsip, Illinois that is part of the North American Closures Aerosol and Promotion Packaging (CAPP) Division. This individual will plan, organize, and direct the production control and materials functions: including receiving, shipping, scheduling, and inventory control. This position will also maintain continuous communication between internal customers and multiple source suppliers. Duties and Responsibilities: Reporting directly to the Plant Manager, the Manager, Production Planning’s responsibilities would include, but not be limited to, the following: • Develop the Master Schedule requirements from demand forecast, plant capacity, and historical data • Interact with production and sales personnel to update and advise of progress and new developments. • Manage volume and manufacturing location changes between factories as needed to meet customer requirements • Monitoring inventories in an effort to minimize costs and achieve Plant inventory goals • Oversee development and maintenance of tools that enhance production planning capability for the Division • Maintain accurate needs attention and obsolete inventory and implement measures for improvement • Track/analyze data and produce required reports • Update and maintain the planning production system • Interface with manufacturing personnel, purchasing personnel, etc. on material status and production planning issues • Coordinate with the manufacturing floor to actively manage the production schedule. • Follow and audit production orders through the production process to ensure the proper schedule is followed • Monitor manufacturing system transactions for accuracy and work with leaders to correct discrepancies and eliminate the fundamental causes of the problems • Coordinate material delivery with inventory to support manufacturing schedule. May examine material delivered to production to verify conformance to specifications • Compile records such as material inventory, in process production reports, and status and location of materials • Perform system transactions to report movement of material between manufacturing operations and into finished goods • Monitor daily progress of manufacturing orders • Monitor quality, service, and delivery issues and issues corrective actions as needed • Plan and schedule production orders based on established priorities and the availability of required materials and capacity. Follow up to determine actual performance versus estimates. • Maintain the capacity report so that it can be used as a tool in the planning and scheduling process • Maintain monthly and yearly inventory levels • Maintain additional metric reports • Perform other job-related duties as required or assigned Top of Form Job Requirements: • 5+ years of production control experience with 3 years minimum in a manufacturing environment. • Experience in planning component parts from various suppliers, to support plant assembly operations. • Working experience in balancing customer service levels along with aggressive inventory reduction goals. • Proficiency in MS Word, Excel and Access. Computer literacy a must. • Exceptional organizational and project management skills. • Excellent oral and written communications skills. • Associates degree in a related discipline What Crown Offers You • Strong engagement and commitment to the safety of our employees • The opportunity to build a meaningful career • Professional and personal development through training and work experiences Join us and become part of a team of professionals who are passionate about sustainable packaging! Working Together Working Together is one of the five pillars that make up our Twentyby30™ program. We aim to value and respect each individual and foster an environment of inclusivity.

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