Production Planner - Manufacturing

Talentfuse; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Talentfuse is seeking a Senior Production Planner in Johannesburg to lead end-to-end production planning and inventory management within a manufacturing division. Reporting to the Divisional Executive, you will optimise finished goods availability and stock levels while driving production efficiency.

The ideal candidate has 5–10 years of production planning experience, SAP proficiency, and strong analytical, mathematical and communication skills to engage stakeholders across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Qualification in Operations Management or Industrial Engineering.
• 5–10 years' production planning experience – essential.
• SAP experience – essential.
• Excellent MS Excel skills.
• Strong analytical and logical thinking ability.
• Strong mathematical ability.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to engage confidently with stakeholders across the organisation.
• Firm, confident and assertive approach.
• Strong customer and business focus.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of end-to-end production planning and inventory management within the manufacturing division.
• Develop, manage and issue daily production schedules in line with customer demand and production requirements.
• Ensure optimal finished goods availability while maintaining appropriate reorder levels and minimising slow-moving stock.
• Coordinate material availability to support uninterrupted production and efficient fulfilment of customer requirements.
• Liaise with Sales, Stores, Distribution and branch teams to ensure effective product availability and service delivery.
• Monitor, calculate and report on daily and weekly production efficiencies.
• Coordinate picking slips and loading requirements for long-distance deliveries.
• Liaise with Raw Materials regarding exceptions and requirements for new products.
• Maintain finished goods master data, including pricing, coding, packing and costing standards.
• Support long-term production capacity planning and provide input into future machine capacity requirements.
• Assist with the utilisation budgeting process and provide relevant planning input.
• Optimise mould layouts, including cavity automation, to support production efficiency.
• Identify opportunities to improve stock management, production efficiency and service levels.

Education

Operations Management or Industrial Engineering

Tools

SAP

MS Excel

Job description

Role profile:

A leading manufacturing organisation is looking for an experienced Senior Production Planner to join its manufacturing division.

Reporting to the Divisional Executive, the Senior Production Planner will take responsibility for end-to-end production planning and inventory management, ensuring optimal finished goods availability to meet customer demand while maintaining appropriate stock levels and production efficiency.

Key Responsibilities:

• Take ownership of end-to-end production planning and inventory management within the manufacturing division.
• Develop, manage and issue daily production schedules in line with customer demand and production requirements.
• Ensure optimal finished goods availability while maintaining appropriate reorder levels and minimising slow-moving stock.
• Coordinate material availability to support uninterrupted production and efficient fulfilment of customer requirements.
• Liaise with Sales, Stores, Distribution and branch teams to ensure effective product availability and service delivery.
• Monitor, calculate and report on daily and weekly production efficiencies.
• Coordinate picking slips and loading requirements for long-distance deliveries.
• Liaise with Raw Materials regarding exceptions and requirements for new products.
• Maintain finished goods master data, including pricing, coding, packing and costing standards.
• Support long-term production capacity planning and provide input into future machine capacity requirements.
• Assist with the utilisation budgeting process and provide relevant planning input.
• Optimise mould layouts, including cavity automation, to support production efficiency.
• Identify opportunities to improve stock management, production efficiency and service levels.

Candidate Profile & Requirements:

• Qualification in Operations Management or Industrial Engineering.
• 5–10 years' production planning experience – essential.
• SAP experience – essential.
• Excellent MS Excel skills.
• Strong analytical and logical thinking ability.
• Strong mathematical ability.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to engage confidently with stakeholders across the organisation.
• Firm, confident and assertive approach.
• Strong customer and business focus.

Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate will have solid production planning experience within a manufacturing environment, with the ability to balance customer demand, inventory levels, production capacity and operational efficiency.

You will need to be highly analytical, organised and confident working across multiple functions, with strong SAP and Excel capability and the ability to make sound, data-driven planning decisions.