Production Control Manager

Exactaform Cutting Tools; Ash Green; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing company in the UK seeks a Production Control Manager to oversee the Stores, Dispatch and Planning team. You will lead production planning, scheduling, material management, and logistics, ensuring efficient operations that meet customer demands. With at least 3 years in a fast-paced engineering environment, you will drive continuous improvement, align operational goals, and develop a high-performing team. This role requires strong leadership and data-driven decision-making skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years in a fast-moving engineering company.
• Experience in production planning and logistics.
• Strong leadership skills to develop teams and improve processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop production plans and schedules meeting customer demands.
• Oversee materials and inventory for production.
• Lead logistics for timely movement of goods.

Skills

Production planning

Logistics management

Inventory management

Team leadership

Data analysis

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Reporting to the Operations Director you will be responsible for the Stores, Dispatch and Planning team. (4 in total), you will have served a minimum of 3 years in a fast moving Engineering company. Your role is to lead and optimise production planning, scheduling, stores, and logistics to ensure the business delivers customer demand reliably, efficiently, and on time. The role is responsible for creating accurate, achievable production plans, coordinating material and inventory availability, and ensuring smooth, uninterrupted workflow across the organisation. As the owner of Stores and Logistics, the Production Control Manager ensures inventory accuracy, timely material flow, and cost-effective, dependable inbound and outbound logistics performance. Additionally, the role drives continuous improvement across planning processes, inventory management, and material flow to support operational excellence, reduced lead times, and improved delivery performance. The Production Control Manager also strengthens cross-functional alignment—particularly between Operations, Sales, Engineering, and Quality—ensuring decisions are data-driven, capacity is well balanced, and the business remains agile and responsive to customer needs.

Role and Responsibilities

1. Production Planning & Scheduling

• Develop accurate, achievable production plans and schedules that meet customer demand and align with capacity, labour, and material availability.
• Maintain a robust planning system that balances workloads, reduces bottlenecks, and optimises utilisation across operations.
• Adjust schedules proactively in response to changes in demand, machine availability, or supply constraints.

2. Material & Inventory Management

• Oversee all Stores operations to ensure accurate inventory levels, effective stock rotation, and timely availability of materials.
• Ensure all materials, tooling, and components are available when required to avoid production delays.
• Drive improvements in stock accuracy through cycle counting, root cause analysis, and robust inventory controls.

3. Logistics & Material Flow

• Lead internal and external logistics to ensure timely, efficient, and cost-effective movement of goods.
• Oversee inbound logistics to maintain reliable supplier delivery performance and minimise disruptions.
• Manage outbound logistics to ensure on-time, in-full (OTIF) delivery to customers.

4. Operational Alignment & Communication

• Central communication link between Ops, Sales, Eng., and Quality to ensure full alignment on priorities, demand forecasts, and delivery expectations.
• Provide accurate, timely updates on plan adherence, risks, and required adjustments.
• Ensure planning, inventory, and logistics data is accurate and up to date within ERP/MRP systems.
• Utilise data-driven analysis to support forecasting, capacity planning, and decision-making.

5. Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop teams across Production Control, Stores, and Logistics, ensuring clear objectives, accountability, and skills growth.
• Promote a culture of ownership, accuracy, and proactive problem-solving.
• Ensure the team is trained in planning processes, lean principles, and safe handling of materials and equipment.

6. Performance Management & Reporting

• Track and report key KPIs including schedule adherence, OTIF, inventory accuracy, and logistics performance.
• Provide regular updates to senior leadership on risks, performance trends, and improvement opportunities.
• Ensure corrective actions are implemented and verified when performance deviations occur.

Objectives

• Increase Schedule Adherence and Production Stability
• Improve Inventory Accuracy and Material Availability
• Strengthen Logistics Efficiency and Delivery Performance
• People and Processes - Capability & Optimisation.

KPI's

• Operational Excellence (OTIF≥ 95% Production)
• Schedule Adherance≥ 95%
• Inventory Accuracy≥ 98%
• Material Availability/Line stop incidents 0
• Logistics (Pick / Despatch Accuracy)≥ 98%
• Planning Data Accuracy (Lead times MRP/ERP Integrity & Updates to be issued)
• Monthly Continuous Improvement
• Inbound Supplier Delivery Performance≥ 95%
• Leadership / People Training Completion & Skills Development
• Team Engagement & Leadership Effectiveness