Production Planning Manager

SUMMARY The Production Planning Manager establishes, maintains, and optimizes the production scheduling framework, capacity planning process, and inventory control strategies to ensure efficient execution while reducing material shortages and supporting on-time customer shipments. This position serves as the functional lead for Production Planning, Inventory Optimization, and packaging availability.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Establish, maintain, and continuously improve the master scheduling framework, logic, and standard procedures to optimize line balancing while maintaining target inventory levels at each process.

Evaluate customer orders with short and long-term forecasting to identify capacity constraints, balance shift structures, and evaluate overtime requirements in both immediate and long-term production planning. Collaborate with various departments (i.e. Manufacturing, Engineering) to minimize production risks, demand shortages, and improve plant-wide inventory flow.

Oversee production materials, WIP, and Finished Goods inventory strategies to balance safety stock targets, minimize lead times, and eliminate material and shipment shortages. Define inventory control procedures and lead the inventory team through outlined cycle count process and identification of improvements based on inventory accuracy results.

Monitor real-time output and schedule compliance/attainment. Work with Production Planning team to adjust schedules and recovery plans during increased downtime, scrap, and material shortages.

Maintain master data and accuracy in ERP and MES platforms including routings, lead-times / inventory target, and cycle-count frequencies.

Work closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Maintenance, and Engineering to schedule PM windows, equipment repairs, and trial runs without impacts to customer shipments.

Manage Safety Stocks, lead times, and reorder points for expendable packaging materials to prevent bottlenecks and customer shipment shortages. Oversee availability of returnable packaging (internal and customer-owned) through inbound/outbound tracking, container damages, and demand requirements.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES Directly Supervises and ensures success of all team members within the Production Planning Team. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, training, planning/assigning/directing work, appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees, and addressing complaints and resolving problems.

QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE Bachelor’s degree (B.A. / B.S.) from four-year college or university; and four to six years relating experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

LANGUAGE SKILLS Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret documents and regulations. Ability to write reports and business correspondence. Ability to effectively establish rapport, present information and respond to questions from managers, co-workers and customers.

MATHMATICAL / COMPUTER SKILLSAbility to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Ability to compute rate, ratio,…