Sr Production Planning Manager

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 2,500,000 - 3,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck KGaA in Jigani, India, seeks an experienced Production Planning Manager to own end-to-end planning. You will translate demand into executable schedules, coordinate materials and capacity, and align Supply Chain, Production, Procurement, QA, Engineering, Logistics, and Customer Service to ensure on-time delivery.

Based in Jigani, you will manage MPS/MRP, RCCP, and inventory strategies while leading cross-functional reviews and driving continuous improvement with SAP MM/PP/SD, APO/IBP, and

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering or related discipline or equivalent experience.
• 10–15 years in production/supply planning in chemical or life science industries.
• Strong SAP ERP/SAP APO/IBP experience with planning parameters.
• Advanced Excel; experience with Power BI for KPI reporting.
• Analytical mindset to model demand, capacity, and inventory.
• Leadership and coaching of planning teams; cross-functional collab.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the weekly Master Production Schedule (MPS) for all SKUs.
• Run MRP reviews and align procurement to ensure material availability.
• Own SAP planning data integrity (BOM, Routing, Material Master).
• Manage RCCP, track capacity utilization, and report to site management.
• Coordinate monthly supply reviews and align with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Define safety stock and inventory strategies; manage aging/E&O.
• Lead cross-functional planning interfaces and drive risk mitigation.
• Develop the local planning team and pursue continuous improvement.

Skills

Demand planning

Schedule optimization

Cross-functional communication

Data analytics

Leadership

Problem solving

Education

Engineering degree

Supply chain/Operations degree

Chemistry background

Tools

SAP ERP / S/4HANA

SAP APO

SAP IBP

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Job Description:

Work Your Magic with us! Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. Thats why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

Your Role:

This role is responsible for the end-to-end production planning process at the Jigani manufacturing site. The Production Planning Manager translates demand signals and customer orders into executable manufacturing schedules, coordinates material availability and capacity utilization, and maintains cross-functional alignment across Supply Chain, Production, Procurement, Warehouse, Quality, Engineering, Logistics, and Customer Service to support on-time delivery and inventory performance targets.

Key Accountability Area

1. Master Production Scheduling & Material Planning

• Develop and maintain the weekly rolling Master Production Schedule (MPS) for all SKUs.
• Run MRP reviews; align procurement plans and supplier lead times to ensure material availability prior to scheduled production.
• Own SAP PP planning parameters (lot sizing, safety stock, lead times) and master data accuracy (BOM, Routing, Material Master).
• Manage APO / IBP data flow; ensure data integrity and timely updates.

2. Capacity Planning & Schedule Adherence

• Conduct Rough-Cut Capacity Planning (RCCP) to identify bottleneck constraints and support production commitments.
• Monitor and analyse Schedule Adherence; identify root causes and coordinate corrective actions.
• Incorporate maintenance shutdown windows and engineering changeovers into the production schedule.
• Track capacity utilisation (RCCP Loading %) and report to site management.

3. Supply Review & Cross-functional Planning Alignment

• Coordinate the monthly supply review process; prepare supply-demand netting, order status, and inventory summary for cross-functional discussion.
• Track and follow up on actions agreed in supply review meetings; ensure timely closure of open items.
• Establish NPI planning checkpoints (material confirmation and capacity confirmation) prior to new product introduction.
• Maintain alignment between supply plan and downstream stakeholders including Trading SC, Warehouse, QC, and Customer Service.

4. Inventory Strategy & Aging / E&O Management

• Monitor site inventory health; track aging inventory and Excess & Obsolescence (E&O) status.
• Define safety stock levels and buffer strategies to balance service level with inventory cost.
• Coordinate resolution of backlog orders and surplus materials in alignment with relevant stakeholders.
• Work with Finance to ensure inventory targets are aligned with site financial objectives.

5. Cross-functional Coordination & Stakeholder Communication

• Serve as the planning interface between Commercial, Production, Procurement, Warehouse, Quality, and Logistics.
• Communicate supply risks, capacity constraints, and recovery plans to relevant stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Support NPI product introductions by confirming material and capacity readiness prior to launch.
• Participate in cross-functional meetings and provide planning input to support business decisions.

6. Team Development & Process Improvement

• Develop the local planning teams capability in system usage (SAP MM/PP/SD, APO/IBP) and planning methodology.
• Identify and implement process improvements to increase planning accuracy, schedule adherence, and inventory performance.
• Ensure planning platforms and dashboards are actively maintained and used as decision-support tools.
• Establish clear accountabilities, issue-tracking practices, and follow-up discipline within the planning team.

Who You Are

• Education: Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Chemistry, or a related discipline; or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience: 10 to 15 years in production planning, supply planning, or manufacturing planning within the chemical or life science industries, managing complex, multi-SKU portfolios.
• MRP / MPS: Strong command of Material Requirements Planning and Master Production Scheduling; proven ability to translate demand plans into executable manufacturing schedules.
• SAP proficiency: Hands‑on experience with SAP ERP / S/4HANA, SAP APO, or SAP IBP; able to manage planning parameters, BOM/Routing validation, and system data independently.
• Data & analytics: Advanced Microsoft Excel; experience with Power BI or equivalent tools for data visualisation and KPI reporting.
• Analytical thinking: Ability to analyse demand patterns, model capacity scenarios, and identify root causes of supply or inventory issues using data.
• Business acumen: Understanding of P&L impact, cash-flow implications of inventory, and customer service priorities; able to connect planning decisions to business outcomes.
• Capability building: Experience coaching or developing planning teams; able to establish structured ways of working and build team accountability.
• Cross‑functional communication: Clear and effective communicator across functions; able to present supply risks and recovery options to operational and senior management audiences.
• Continuous improvement: Familiarity with Lean or operational excellence methodologies; track record of improving planning accuracy, schedule adherence, and inventory performance.

Location

Jigani, India

What we offer:

We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!