Production Planning Manager

IMI; Poole; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

IMI plc is seeking an experienced Production Planning Lead to manage the Planning team and own end-to-end production planning from order release to completion. You will coordinate with Sales and Contracts to ensure accurate lead times and capacity planning, driving on-time delivery and optimal WIP levels.

The role focuses on capacity planning, workflow optimisation, and continuous improvement of planning tools and processes across ERP/MRP systems.

Qualifications

• Extensive production planning and master scheduling background in an engineering/manufacturing environment.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems to drive scheduling accuracy and delivery performance.
• Ability to lead, develop and review a planning team and coordinate with Sales, Contracts and Procurement.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team responsible for production planning, master production scheduling and SIOP forecasting.
• Review and develop planning methods, data accuracy, and reporting to meet current and future needs.
• Ensure ERP/MRP data, lead times, routings and delivery dates are accurate and maintained.
• Collaborate with Purchasing, Operations and Supply Chain to optimise stock and WIP.
• Provide concise information for management reports and attend management meetings.

Skills

Production planning

Master scheduling

Analytical skills

People leadership

Tools

EFACS

Opcenter

Power BI

Excel

Job description

IMI plc

We are a global specialist engineering company that creates breakthrough solutions. We are curious and like to solve problems, partnering with our customers to solve the demands of today and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow. We embrace innovation and care about outcomes that are good for business, everyday life and making a better world – creating lasting impact for everyone.

We design, build and service highly engineered products in fluid and motion control applications. We focus on five market sectors: Industrial Automation, Process Automation, Climate Control, Life Science and Fluid Control, and Transport.

Role Overview

The role will report into the Head of Production and be responsible for managing the Planning team. The role will be responsible for full production planning of workflow, from order release to production flowing through to completion of items. Liaison with other departments in particular Sales and Contracts which will be essential to ensure orders are raised with correct lead time, with regards to capacity and capabilities.

The role will be responsible for the planning of capacity and workflow to ensure that customer deliveries, whether internal or external are met on time in full. Coordinate the activities of production planners, master production scheduler and SIOP management processes and developing the Company’s tools and methodologies accordingly.

The result of delivering on time in full will have an impact of WIP and Stock reduction. Typical WIP value should be less than £450k. Further benefits would be an increase; to delivery performance, volume of throughput, reduction in stock levels and cycle times.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading a team responsible for production planning, master production scheduling and lead SIOP forecasting activities
• Reviewing current production scheduling and planning methods and tools within the business and map out a strategy for development of these to meet current and future requirements and to set policies for planning rules, data accuracy and reporting
• Further develop and improve processes to ensure production schedules data are accurate, maintained and can be quickly and efficiently modified
• Ensure production planning data within ERP/MRP and scheduling systems is accurate and maintained, including planning parameters, lead times, routings, work-order status, stock allocations and key delivery dates, to support reliable production schedules and customer commitments.
• Monitor and manage feedback on manufacturing progress and identify actions necessary to include in production activity plans and to develop the tools and processes with which to do this including metrics to demonstrate lead time, schedule performance and capacity utilisation (in collaboration with Operations)
• Attend management meetings
• Take ownership of stock management and inventory optimisation, working closely with Purchasing, Operations and Supply Chain to maintain appropriate stock levels, reduce excess and obsolete inventory, manage WIP, and ensure material availability supports the production plan and customer delivery commitments.
• Manage holidays ensuring sufficient staffing levels.
• Provide information for resolving schedule issues with project managers, procurement, engineering, sales and manufacturing managers
• Provide concise and accurate information for management reports
• Undertake performance reviews and management of individuals within team.
• Use and maintain the company’s ERP, MRP and production-scheduling systems, including EFACS, Opcenter, Power BI and Excel, ensuring that planning data, works orders, routes, allocations and delivery dates are accurate and actively managed.
• Ensure that all risk and COSHH assessments are in place and up to date and that staff have been informed of and understand those which are relevant to your area of responsibility.
• Ensure team within your area of responsibility are competent to undertake designated roles and training is given and monitored offering support and Identify training needs.
• Perform other such duties commensurate with the nature and level of the post as may be reasonably required.

Critical Competencies for Success

• An extensive production planning and master scheduling background within an engineering manufacturing environment.
• Have a demonstrable track record of leading a production and planning team with experience of use and implementation of MRP tools and systems.
• Highly analytical with strong statistical and numerical skills and have excellent communication and people skills, with the ability to motivate and influence
• Need to be numerate and IT literate with a good working knowledge of Excel and other Microsoft packages in order to compile and analyse performance statistics and deliver reports.

IMI is an inclusive employer; diversity is very important to us, and we want to receive applications from people from all backgrounds