Production Planning And Control Manager

Wabtec; Krishnagiri District; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Wabtec in India seeks an experienced Production Planning & Scheduling professional to lead and optimize planning activities across multiple work centers. The role ensures material availability, balanced schedules, and end-to-end execution of production orders, aligning with demand forecasts and MPS.

The ideal candidate will drive lean initiatives, improve OTIF performance, and enhance data-driven decision-making through ERP systems and MIS reporting.

Qualifications

• Seasoned PPC professional with hands-on experience in production planning and scheduling.
• Ability to balance capacity, line loading, and material availability.
• Strong ERP and data-driven decision making; MIS reporting skills.
• Excellent cross-functional coordination with warehouse, fulfillment, and procurement.
• Lean manufacturing mindset and continuous improvement focus.

Responsibilities

• Lead preparation, review, and execution of production plans in line with demand forecasts and MPS.
• Ensure balanced scheduling across work centers to avoid bottlenecks.
• Drive level loading of manufacturing activities and manage production priorities.
• Review shift plans based on capacity and constraints.
• Oversee end-to-end execution of production orders and monitor progress.
• Monitor plan vs actual performance and drive corrective actions.
• Lead lean initiatives and process improvements across PPC.
• Drive ERP-based planning, reporting, and data management.

Job description

Key missions of the position:

• Lead and control production planning and scheduling processes aligned with demand requirements and Master Production Schedule (MPS)
• Drive capacity planning, load balancing, and resource optimization across manufacturing work centers
• Ensure material availability and timely coordination with fulfillment, warehouse, and supply chain teams
• Improve production adherence, OTIF performance, and execution discipline through strong control mechanisms
• Optimize RM, WIP, and FG inventory levels while minimizing excess and obsolete stock
• Strengthen ERP-based planning, reporting, and data-driven decision-making across PPC operations.

Main responsibilities:

Production Planning & Scheduling

• Lead preparation, review, and execution of production plans in alignment with demand forecasts, customer priorities, and business requirements
• Ensure balanced and optimized production scheduling across work centers to maintain smooth workflow and avoid bottlenecks
• Drive level loading of manufacturing activities and manage production priorities effectively
• Review and approve shift plans based on available capacity, production requirements, and operational constraints
• Ensure production schedules are realistic, achievable, and aligned with plant capability

Capacity & Resource Management

• Own overall planning of plant capacity, including machine loading, manpower deployment, and ensuring availability of all critical resources for uninterrupted production
• Monitor resource utilization and drive actions to improve productivity, throughput, and planning accuracy across manufacturing operations
• Identify constraints in manufacturing capacity as well as supporting resources, and initiate corrective and long-term improvement plans
• Ensure end-to-end resource availability by closely coordinating with warehouse and fulfilment teams for timely support of production requirements
• Coordinate with operations, warehouse, and fulfillment teams to optimize resource utilization, minimize idle time, and maintain smooth production flow

Material Planning & Availability

• Ensure timely availability of raw materials, components, and supporting inputs required for uninterrupted production
• Lead coordination with fulfillment, warehouse, procurement, and related functions to resolve shortages and supply constraints
• Monitor inventory trends, material consumption, and planning risks to support production continuity
• Drive proactive shortage management, issue escalation, and follow-up to avoid schedule slippages and delivery impact

Order Execution & Production

• Oversee end-to-end execution of production orders to ensure smooth workflow across all manufacturing stages
• Monitor production progress and control output to meet schedules, targets, and delivery commitments
• Ensure timely resolution of shop floor issues, operational bottlenecks, and execution disruptions
• Drive accountability for production performance through close coordination with production and line teams

Production Control & Performance Monitoring

• Review Plan vs Actual production performance and lead detailed variance analysis on a regular basis
• Monitor schedule adherence and drive corrective actions for deviations in execution
• Ensure strict control over production output by coordinating with shop floor and operations teams
• Track planning and execution performance indicators to improve reliability, consistency, and delivery performance

Process Improvement & Lean Initiatives

• Lead lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives within the PPC and planning framework
• Identify planning and execution process gaps, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities across the value chain
• Drive cross-functional improvement projects focused on productivity enhancement, cost optimisation, and cycle-time reduction
• Promote process discipline, standardisation, and operational excellence across PPC activities

Systems & Data Management

• Drive effective utilisation of ERP and planning systems for accurate, data-driven planning and decision-making
• Lead preparation of MIS reports, dashboards, and analytics for PPC and production performance tracking
• Ensure data accuracy, integrity, and system discipline across all PPC processes
• Use data insights to identify trends, improve planning efficiency, and support management decisions

Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Act as a key interface between PPC, production, fulfillment, warehouse and procurement teams
• Ensure alignment between demand planning, production capability, and execution readiness
• Participate in SIOP / planning review discussions and ensure follow-through on execution decisions
• Drive timely communication, issue resolution, and cross-functional coordination to support operational stability
• Maintain overall visibility and oversight of inventory across RM, WIP, and FG by coordinating with warehouse and fulfillment teams to support effective planning and execution

People Management & Team Leadership

• Lead and manage the PPC team including Deputy Managers, Engineers, and planners to ensure effective execution of planning and control activities
• Allocate responsibilities, set clear objectives, and monitor team performance against defined KPIs
• Coach, mentor, and develop team members to build functional capability, ownership, and succession readiness
• Drive a culture of accountability, discipline, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the team
• Conduct regular performance reviews, provide feedback, and support capability-building initiatives
• Ensure internal coordination, issue resolution, and task ownership within the PPC team