Manufacturing Process Improvement & Production Planning Consultan

Location: South Plainfield, NJ
Position Type: Contract / Consulting Engagement
Industry: Manufacturing

Nekoosa is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Process Improvement & Production Planning Consultant to assess its existing manufacturing operations, evaluate production planning strategies, and identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and supply chain performance.

This individual will work with company leadership and cross-functional teams to review current manufacturing and production planning practices, identify operational challenges, and develop strategic recommendations to improve production scheduling, resource utilization, material planning, and overall manufacturing performance.

The primary focus of this consulting engagement will be evaluating how production is currently planned and managed, identifying opportunities for improvement, and providing recommendations to establish more effective and streamlined operational processes.

The ideal candidate brings extensive manufacturing and supply chain experience, with a strong understanding of production planning, scheduling, inventory management, and manufacturing operations. They should be comfortable analyzing existing business processes, identifying inefficiencies, presenting findings to leadership, and developing actionable strategies to improve performance.

• Evaluate existing manufacturing operations, production planning practices, and supply chain processes to identify operational challenges and improvement opportunities.

• Assess current production workflows, scheduling methodologies, and coordination between manufacturing and supply chain functions.

• Identify inefficiencies, recurring operational challenges, and areas where existing processes may be limiting productivity or performance.

• Analyze current operating practices and benchmark opportunities for more effective manufacturing and planning strategies.

• Evaluate existing production planning methodologies, including Master Production Scheduling (MPS), production priorities, and scheduling practices.

• Assess how production capacity, resource availability, and manufacturing requirements are incorporated into current planning processes.

• Identify opportunities to improve production sequencing, scheduling accuracy, and alignment between production demand and available resources.

• Develop recommendations to improve production planning strategies and overall scheduling effectiveness.

• Evaluate existing material planning, inventory management, purchasing, and replenishment strategies.

• Identify opportunities to improve material availability and coordination between supply chain, purchasing, and manufacturing teams.

• Analyze inventory management practices and identify opportunities to reduce excess inventory, material shortages, and production disruptions.

• Recommend improvements to material planning processes and overall supply chain coordination.

• Analyze manufacturing performance data, operational metrics, and production KPIs to identify opportunities for improvement.

• Evaluate existing workflows and operational processes to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and opportunities to improve resource utilization.

• Assess opportunities to streamline processes, improve production flow, and reduce unnecessary operational costs.

• Develop recommendations to improve manufacturing efficiency, scheduling performance, and overall operational effectiveness.

• Present findings and recommendations to leadership regarding production planning, manufacturing operations, and supply chain performance.

• Develop strategic improvement plans addressing identified operational challenges and opportunities.

• Establish prioritized recommendations and implementation roadmaps to support improved manufacturing and planning practices.

• Advise leadership and cross-functional stakeholders on opportunities to strengthen operational processes and long-term planning strategies.

• Provide guidance on evaluating the effectiveness of recommended improvements and establishing sustainable operational practices.

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field preferred.

• 8+…