Position Overview
The Production Planner is responsible for developing and executing production schedules to ensure the efficient, timely, and cost-effective manufacturing of lubricants. This role acts as the key link between sales, supply chain, procurement, and operations teams, balancing customer demand with available resources, while maintaining optimal inventory and plant efficiency.
Key Responsibilities
- Production Planning & Scheduling
- Develop, maintain, and optimize daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules in line with customer orders, inventory targets, and plant capacity.
- Coordinate production priorities with operations to ensure smooth workflow and timely fulfillment of orders.
- Adjust schedules proactively to respond to changes in demand, raw material availability, or plant issues.
- Materials & Inventory Management
- Ensure raw materials, additives, and packaging materials are available to meet production schedules.
- Monitor stock levels of finished lubricants and packaging materials, maintaining optimal inventory balance.
- Collaborate with procurement on replenishment planning and lead time management.
- Coordination & Communication
- Act as the central liaison between sales, supply chain, production, and logistics teams.
- Communicate production plans, changes, and priorities clearly to all stakeholders.
- Support the resolution of order fulfillment issues by coordinating corrective actions.
- Data, Systems & Reporting
- Use ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, or similar) to create and track production schedules.
- Monitor KPIs such as on-time delivery (OTIF), schedule adherence, and capacity utilization.
- Prepare reports and analyses to support continuous improvement in planning and operations.
- Continuous Improvement
- Identify bottlenecks and propose solutions to enhance production efficiency and reduce downtime.
- Support lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and 5S initiatives in the lubricant blending and packaging plant.
- Contribute to projects focused on reducing costs, optimizing lead times, and improving customer satisfaction.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Business, or a related field.
- 3–5 years of experience in production planning, preferably in lubricants, chemicals, or FMCG manufacturing.
- Strong understanding of production processes, material requirements planning, and supply chain concepts.
- Proficiency with ERP systems (SAP/APO, Oracle, or similar) and Microsoft Excel.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
- Excellent communication, coordination, and stakeholder management abilities.
Key Competencies
- Planning & Organizational Skills
- Analytical Thinking & Problem-Solving
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Adaptability & Flexibility
- Continuous Improvement Mindset