Production Planner

Nichehr Global; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A global operations and supply chain firm in South Africa is seeking a Production & Supply Planner to ensure effective planning and coordination across functions. The ideal candidate will have 4–6 years in production planning with solid SAP knowledge. Responsibilities include developing production plans, optimizing inventory, and collaborating with various departments. Opportunities for process improvement and automation are available in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 4–6 years of experience in production or supply planning within FMCG or manufacturing environments.
• Exposure to S&OP and Inventory Optimization processes preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain weekly and monthly production plans based on sales forecasts.
• Align production schedules with RM/PM availability and factory constraints.
• Coordinate with Production, Quality, and Engineering teams to monitor plan adherence.
• Convert demand plans into RM/PM requirements using SAP MRP.
• Optimize RM, PM, and FG inventory in line with company norms.
• Collaborate across cross-functional teams for supply chain alignment.

Skills

Strong working knowledge of SAP (PP / MM modules)

Advanced proficiency in Excel tools (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, Power Query)

Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities

Strong coordination and communication skills

Ability to manage multiple priorities

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or Industrial Management

Tools

SAP

Excel

Power BI

Job description

Job Title

Production & Supply Planner

Location

South Africa

Department

Operations – Planning

Reporting To

Manager – Planning, South Africa

Summary

The Production & Supply Planner will ensure seamless coordination between demand planning, production, procurement, and logistics functions to achieve optimal inventory levels, high serviceability, and efficient production execution in alignment with business objectives.

Roles and Responsibilities

Production Planning

• Develop and maintain weekly and monthly production plans based on sales forecasts, inventory norms, and capacity availability.
• Align production schedules with RM / PM availability and factory constraints to ensure uninterrupted operations.
• Coordinate with Production, Quality, and Engineering teams to monitor plan adherence and resolve bottlenecks.
• Track and report key metrics such as Plan vs Actual Production, Capacity Utilization, and Schedule Adherence.

Supply & Material Planning

• Convert demand plans into RM / PM requirements using SAP MRP and ensure timely purchase requisitions.
• Maintain healthy stock cover levels by balancing overstock and stock‑out risks.
• Monitor slow‑moving and short‑dated materials; initiate timely consumption or liquidation actions.
• Coordinate with Procurement and 3P Manufacturing to align material dispatches with production needs.

Inventory Management

• Optimize RM, PM, and FG inventory in line with company norms and working capital targets.
• Identify and report SLOB (Slow Moving & Obsolete) materials monthly and work with stakeholders to mitigate risks.

Cross‑Functional Coordination

• Collaborate with Demand Planning, Procurement, Warehousing, QA, and Logistics for end‑to‑end supply chain alignment.
• Participate in weekly S&OP and planning review meetings to present production and inventory performance.
• Liaise with Marketing and Sales to accommodate urgent or NPD requirements without disrupting base production.

System & Reporting

• Maintain all plans and data accurately in SAP (S4 / HANA) and planning trackers (Excel / Power BI).
• Generate daily / weekly reports on production status, dispatches, material availability, and service levels.
• Support automation and process improvement initiatives to enhance planning accuracy and visibility.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or Industrial Management.

Experience

4–6 years of experience in production or supply planning within FMCG or manufacturing environments.

Exposure to S&OP and Inventory Optimization processes preferred.

Skills

• Strong working knowledge of SAP (PP / MM modules).
• Advanced proficiency in Excel tools (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, Power Query).
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Strong coordination and communication skills across cross‑functional teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Production Plan Adherence > 95%
• Sales Loss % > 98%
• Retail Serviceability > 99%
• RM / PM Stock Norm Adherence > 95%
• Forecast Accuracy & Bias > 95%
• SLOB % of Total Inventory > 70%

MIS Reports

• Forecast Accuracy
• Forecast Bias
• Sales Loss %
• Serviceability
• Retail Serviceability