Production Planning Manager

IMI Process Automation; Poole; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

IMI plc is seeking an experienced Planning Manager to lead the Planning team and manage full production planning from order release to completion, ensuring on-time delivery and optimal WIP. You will coordinate with Sales, Contracts, Purchasing and other departments, develop scheduling processes, maintain data accuracy in EFACS/Opcenter, and drive improvements in stock levels and cycle times.

The role emphasizes leadership, analytical thinking, and strong communication to support delivery

Qualifications

• Experience leading a production planning or scheduling team.
• Proven track record with MRP tools and systems.
• Strong numerical and statistical skills with proficiency in Excel.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team responsible for production planning, master production scheduling and lead SIOP forecasting activities.
• Review and develop planning policies, data accuracy and reporting to meet current and future requirements.
• Ensure ERP/MRP data including lead times, routings, work orders, stock allocations and delivery dates are accurate.
• Coordinate with Sales, Contracts, Purchasing and other departments to ensure correct lead times and on-time deliveries.
• Provide concise management reports and monitor scheduling performance metrics.
• Manage holidays and staffing to maintain adequate coverage.
• Utilize EFACS, Opcenter and Power BI to monitor planning data and improve processes.

Skills

Production planning

Master scheduling

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Tools

EFACS

Opcenter

Excel

Power BI

ERP/MRP systems

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