Planning Manager

Responsibilities

1. Lead the master production schedule and detailed production planning process based on customer demand, material availability, capacity and operational priorities.
2. Convert demand forecasts and confirmed orders into realistic production plans, communicate priorities and ensure alignment across Production, Procurement, Engineering, Warehouse, Sales and Customer Service.
3. Monitor plan attainment, delivery performance, backlog, inventory exposure and capacity constraints; initiate corrective actions and escalate critical risks promptly.
4. Perform Capacity Requirements Planning, including work-centre setup and maintenance, capacity loading, output analysis and scenario planning.
5. Review material readiness and inventory performance, including minimum and maximum stock levels, excess and obsolete exposure and shortage risks; recommend action plans to buyers and demand planners.
6. Maintain planning parameters and data accuracy in the MRP/ERP system, including lead times, lot sizes, safety stock, planning horizons and scheduling rules.
7. Analyse planning data and trends to identify process gaps, improve forecast-to-plan conversion, reduce schedule changes and enhance operational performance.
8. Develop contingency plans for supply, capacity or demand disruptions and coordinate recovery actions to protect customer commitments.
9. Lead regular planning and execution reviews, ensuring decisions, owners, timelines and follow-up actions are clearly documented.
10. Partner with relevant functions on cost, productivity, inventory and lead-time improvement initiatives, including Lean and continuous improvement activities.
11. Manage, coach and develop the planning team; set priorities, allocate workload, build capability and maintain effective backup coverage.
12. Ensure planning processes, records and reports comply with company procedures, internal controls and applicable quality requirements.

Skills & Abilities

• Strategic and analytical thinking with strong problem-solving and decision-making ability.
• Leadership, coaching and team-development capability.
• Clear written and verbal communication, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all organisational levels.
• Strong planning, organisation and attention to detail, with the ability to manage competing priorities under pressure.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications; advanced Excel and data-analysis capability are preferred.
• High integrity, accountability, commercial awareness and a results-oriented mindset.
• Ability to challenge assumptions constructively, develop a functional roadmap and lead change.

Key Performance Indicators

• On-time delivery and customer service performance.

• Production plan attainment and schedule stability.

• Inventory health, inventory turns and excess or obsolete inventory exposure.

• Material shortage, backlog and expedite reduction.

• Capacity utilisation and constraint resolution.

• MRP/ERP planning data accuracy and planning-cycle effectiveness.

• Team capability, process compliance and completion of improvement actions.

Decision-Making and Working Relationships

• Makes day-to-day planning, prioritisation and rescheduling decisions within approved operational guidelines.

• Recommends capacity, inventory, resource and risk-mitigation actions to management.

• Works closely with Operations, Production, Procurement, Demand Planning, Logistics, Warehouse, Engineering, Quality, Finance, Sales and Customer Service.

• Escalates significant customer, material, capacity or delivery risks with clear impact assessment and recovery options.

Physical Characteristics

• Professional, collaborative and confident when managing cross-functional issues.
• Proactive, resilient and calm in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment.
• Meticulous and disciplined while maintaining a practical, business-focused approach.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience in production planning, materials planning, supply chain or manufacturing operations, including at least 3 years in a team-lead or managerial capacity.
• Hands-on experience with MRP/ERP systems and production planning in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Practical knowledge of capacity planning, inventory management, demand and supply balancing and Lean manufacturing principles.
• Experience leading cross-functional problem solving and continuous improvement initiatives.