Production Planning Manager

POSITION SUMMARY/OBJECTIVE: 

Production Planning Manager to be responsible for the strategic and tactical planning of manufacturing to maximize service level performance and efficient delivery of inventory at the lowest cost. This role requires a close partnership with several departments to facilitate all the cross functional needs as it pertains to raw materials, contract manufacturing needs, and finished products. The goal is to ensure the smooth and cost-efficient flow of our production operations. This role will create weekly schedules, orders, detailed records, cost-control procedures, loss prevention through continuous monitoring, and reporting.

• Directly responsible for order commitment, the scheduling of sales orders, on-time delivery, inventory impact and cash flow performance.
• Manage end to end needs with urgent orders to include analyzing impact, communication with cross functional teams to identify, resolve critical issues, and implement actions to resolve
• Manage production plans, OTD reports, status reports and coordinate materials with internal and across multiple manufacturing sites
• Communicate regularly with customer service, sales, purchasing and inventory teams to make best decision on trends, inventory level goals, customer order fill rates and variable demand signals
• Resolve production issues and escalate unresolved issues to management promptly
• Support the team when escalation is required with procurement/manufacturing/customer service team to mitigate critical paths to meet customer deliverables.
• Acts as the primary communication contact (internal and external) for the applicable product group within the organization.
• Works with customer service team to identify customer priorities and communicates schedule changes to production manufacturing manager.
• Coordinates and communicates product delivery and cost requirements to the key support functions to meet schedule shipments in a quality and cost-effective manner.
• Mentors, Trains, and provides supports to the team to execute daily activities to meet objectives
• Consolidates and analyzes information from Customer Service Team, Supply Chain, and the Plant Manager to develop the overall project plan in order to proactively identify issues and resolve them to maintain product delivery in a timely manner.
• Streamline production schedules with production manufacturing management to maximize capacity and coordinate component deliveries to meet on time deliverables
• Leads fulfillment execution meetings on a weekly basis to discuss sales order status, critical path and takes actions to meet production schedule.
• Collaborate with Production and Customer Service to set up and align production schedule
• Lead team to maintain work orders updated to keep accurate schedule for supply chain to action requisitions and expedite purchase orders.
• Holds staff meetings to discuss and review progress of team’s objectives and provide training on planning best practices
• Meets with Planning Network Team monthly to implement and improve planning process
• Biweekly meetings with Plant Managers to discuss project progress and financial status
• Conducts and/or participate s in Schedule Reviews within Utex and with main suppliers as appropriate
• Recommends corrective action for Planning and Production to Plant/Quality Management for review and implementation
• Works with production control planners to identify best practices, implement and improve processes
• Obtain sales order entries with firm demand and forecast and import data into production schedule
• Develop production planning to scale with growth of business
• Assist in production risk assessment and mitigation activities
• Ensure item costing and bills of material accuracy, including creation of bill of materials
• Makes decisions regarding sourcing of components based on customer needs.
• Ensures part number data is accurate and update as needed

Other Requirements

• Good understanding of Supply Chain Metrics
• Experience managing and directing external partners with day-to-day priorities and assisting to resolve problems
• Experience leading cross-functional teams efficiently and effectively to resolve issues and proactively communicate needs
• Background managing different facets of production from start to finish
• Demonstrates proactive problem-solving skills
• Detail orientated with strong follow through skills – able to organize and prioritize multiple projects
• Ability to react to change/flexibility
• Has a sense of urgency in managing time and while accomplishing tasks
• Strong organizational skills
• Must have exceptional computer skills, including Excel, Access, and other Microsoft Office Products
• CPIM Certification a plus
• Understanding of S&OP a plus
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain or equivalent education and experience
• 7+ years’ progressive experience within production planning and/or supply chain
• Good understanding of Project Management process and full understanding of business processes and systems
• Demonstrated experience in product planning and scheduling
• Good persuasive, negotiation, communication and interpersonal skills and project planning ability
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and changing priorities in a fast-paced environment

Work Environment

This job operates in an office and manufacturing environment. This role routinely uses tools and other such equipment during the course of the job duties.  Provided Personal Protective Equipment, as well as steel-toed boots or shoes, must be worn at all times. 

Physical Demands

• Moderate walking and climbing
• Physically able to conduct inspections and carry equipment used for inspections
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at a time
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to, stand, sit; and stoop
• Regular, predictable attendance is required

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• This is a full-time position, and hours of work and days are Monday through Friday.
• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

Travel

EEO STATEMENT

Other Duties