Who is Golden West Packaging Group (GWPG)?
We are a leading West Coast mill-independent specialty packaging and printing business. We are the people behind the innovative packaging solutions that make it possible for our customers’ products to reach our community – at home, school, work, at play, and everywhere in between.
With 13 manufacturing facilities primarily in California and Washington state, our extensive production capabilities include structural and graphic design, value-added converting, flexographic printing, and lithographic lamination. Our advanced, environmentally sustainable packaging solutions serve a wide range of well-known customer brands across multiple industries including agriculture, food services, medical device, food products, wineries, high tech, pharma, cosmetics and many more!
Why is Golden West Packaging Group THE place to work?
We are a well-established, growing company in a stable industry that is re-imagining itself to be a place where everyone knows everyone, where you can make a difference, and where you can learn and grow professionally.
We are focused on safety and building an employee-centric work environment where team members can experience camaraderie, relevance, and career advancement.
As the packaging and logistics sector continues to grow, we’re growing with it and creating new opportunities. Come make your mark at a company that strives to celebrate your individuality, skills, and talents.
At Golden West Packaging Group, you’ll feel the difference and make a difference
The Role You’ll Play
The Production Planner – Litho is responsible for three interconnected functions—Scheduling, Purchasing, and Planning—to ensure efficient, cost-effective, and timely manufacturing operations across Golden West Packaging Group (GWPG). The role coordinates folding carton production at the Sacramento and City of Industry facilities and corrugated production orders at Sacramento. This position translates customer demand into executable production schedules, secures required raw materials, and develops forward-looking capacity and inventory plans. Working closely with Plant Managers, Client Services, production leadership, suppliers, and other stakeholders, the position balances service, quality, machine utilization, material availability, inventory investment, and profitability.
The Production Planner Litho position manages and oversees the workflow of folding cartons at both our Sacramento and City of Industry locations as well as the corrugated production orders at the Sacramento facility with the highest level of accuracy, efficiency, and quality. Expedites the day-to-day scheduling and planning of plant material flow, production, and shipment as well as conferring with department managers/supervisors to determine progress of work and on time deliveries. Compiles reports on work in progress, inventory levels, cost and production issues. Manages scheduling process to ensure all orders are produced, aligned with operational goals and optimize profitability.
What You’ll Do
1 | Scheduling
- Own and maintain daily, weekly, and rolling production schedules across applicable machine centers and facilities, aligning order priorities with committed ship dates.
- Sequence work based on capacity, material readiness, changeovers, trim efficiency, labor availability, preventive maintenance, and operational constraints.
- Monitor work in progress, backlog, schedule adherence, and potential bottlenecks; adjust priorities and communicate changes promptly.
- Coordinate with Client Services and Plant Managers on rush orders, delays, late shipments, maintenance windows, and delivery commitments.
- Assess capacity and backlog to recommend overtime, alternate production sequencing, or other recovery actions when required.
2 | Purchasing
- Forecast, calculate, and coordinate purchasing requirements for roll stock and corrugated sheets by grade, size, and production demand.
- Place and track material orders; work with suppliers to confirm quantities, lead times, pricing, and on-time delivery against production requirements.
- Maintain accurate raw material inventory records, support FIFO practices, and resolve discrepancies arising from transactions, usage, or data-entry errors.
- Balance material availability against excess inventory, carrying cost, scrap, and stockout risk; identify shortages early and escalate supply constraints.
- Review supplier invoices for pricing and quantity accuracy before forwarding to Accounts Payable in accordance with established approval procedures.
3 | Planning
- Develop and maintain a rolling one-month production and material outlook, incorporating demand forecasts, open orders, inventory, supplier lead times, and available capacity.
- Plan plant workflow and material flow from order release through production and shipment, identifying constraints and proposing practical solutions.
- Analyze consumption trends, inventory positions, work in progress, and order backlog to support proactive resource and purchasing decisions.
- Track and report key operational indicators such as on-time delivery, schedule adherence, machine utilization, trim efficiency, waste, and inventory performance.
- Recommend improvements to planning processes, standard workflows, freight/loading coordination, throughput, and overall manufacturing cost efficiency.
- Cross-Functional and General Expectations
- Partner with Operations, Client Services, Purchasing/AP, Quality, and suppliers to maintain accurate information and resolve execution issues.
- Follow GWPG safety and quality procedures, participate in required training, and comply with company policies.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
- Any other duties as assigned.
What You’ll Get
- A friendly, team-based, supportive work environment
- Competitive total compensation package
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, vision, dental, life insurance, and 401K plan with employer contribution
- Employee Assistance coverage with full services, including dietary and nutritional services, retirement planning and support services
- 10 paid holidays per year
- Paid time off
- Progressive employee referral program
- Professional development and career growth opportunities
If this sounds like you and if you have what it takes to push boundaries and seize opportunities, we invite you to apply today!
What You’ll Need
- Strong knowledge of multi-machine manufacturing scheduling, production planning, materials forecasting, purchasing coordination, and inventory control.
- Analytical, mathematical, and problem-solving skills; ability to evaluate tradeoffs among service, capacity, cost, and inventory.
- Ability to use production/ERP or scheduling systems and spreadsheets to maintain data, analyze demand, and report performance.
- Effective organization, prioritization, communication, and cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced, changing environment.
- Understanding of manufacturing workflow, logistics, quality requirements, and continuous-improvement principles.
Education and Experience Required
- High School Diploma or GED Required
- Associate’s degree or higher in business, accounting or engineering preferred
- 5+ years of highly complex scheduling/planning experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
- Knowledge of manufacturing processes and procedures
- Corrugated/Folding Carton experience is preferred but not required
Work Environment/Conditions
- Combination of office and fast-moving manufacturing environment
- Manufacturing floor is loud and conditions can be hot or cold
- Requires occasional travel (25%) to the City of Industry facility and customers
Golden West Packaging Group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind.
California Pay Transparency Disclaimer: This is an Exempt position. The pay range for this position is $75,000 to $85,000 annually. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role. Actual placement within range will be contingent upon several factors, including but not limited to the candidate's qualifications, education, experience, internal equity and alignment with market data.
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