Remote Production Planner: Optimize Schedules & Growth

Placements24; Gauteng; Remote; ZAR 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Competitive compensation

Generous PTO

Professional development

Collaborative remote team

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly organized Production Planner & Scheduler for a fully remote role based in South Africa. You will manage production schedules, forecast demand, and allocate resources across procurement, manufacturing, and logistics to meet delivery targets.

The ideal candidate brings at least 5 years in production planning or supply chain coordination within manufacturing, strong ERP experience (SAP/Oracle/MD), and excellent analytical, communication, and remote-team

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Industrial Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in production planning, scheduling or supply chain coordination in manufacturing.
• Proficient in ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics) and planning software.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management abilities; ability to work remotely.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and optimize production schedules to meet demand forecasts and customer orders.
• Coordinate with sales, procurement, and manufacturing teams to ensure material availability and capacity alignment.
• Monitor production progress and identify delays, implementing corrective actions.
• Manage inventory levels of raw materials, WIP, and finished goods.
• Analyze production data to forecast needs and improve planning accuracy.
• Communicate status, risks, and changes to stakeholders.
• Utilize planning software and ERP systems to manage schedules.
• Collaborate with logistics to ensure timely shipments.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives to reduce costs.
• Prepare reports on schedules, performance metrics, and inventory.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Time management

Communication skills (remote teams)

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management / Operations / Industrial Engineering

APICS certification (preferred)

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Microsoft Dynamics

ERP software

Excel

Job description

About the Role Our client is seeking a highly organized and proactive Production Planner & Scheduler to manage production schedules and resource allocation from a fully remote position. This role is crucial for ensuring the efficient and timely execution of manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in production planning, inventory management, and supply chain coordination, with a proven ability to optimize schedules in a fast-paced environment. You will be responsible for forecasting demand, creating detailed production plans, and coordinating with procurement, manufacturing, and logistics teams to meet delivery targets. This position requires excellent analytical skills, meticulous attention to detail, and exceptional communication abilities to manage a remote workforce effectively. The successful applicant will play a key role in streamlining production processes, minimizing lead times, and ensuring customer satisfaction through timely order fulfillment. We are looking for an individual who thrives on complexity and can maintain a clear overview of production activities to ensure optimal resource utilization. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the success of a leading manufacturing company.

• Develop, maintain, and optimize production schedules to meet demand forecasts and customer orders.
• Coordinate with sales, procurement, and manufacturing teams to ensure material availability and production capacity alignment.
• Monitor production progress and proactively identify potential delays or issues, implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Manage inventory levels of raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods to ensure optimal stock.
• Analyze production data to identify trends, forecast future needs, and improve planning accuracy.
• Communicate effectively with all stakeholders regarding production status, potential risks, and changes to the schedule.
• Utilize production planning software and ERP systems to manage schedules and track performance.
• Collaborate with the logistics team to ensure timely shipment of finished goods.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing production efficiency and reducing costs.
• Prepare reports on production schedules, performance metrics, and inventory status.

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in production planning, scheduling, or supply chain coordination within a manufacturing setting.
• Proven experience in using ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics) and planning software.
• Strong understanding of production processes, inventory management principles, and demand forecasting.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional organizational and time management abilities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively across remote teams.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a remote work environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.
• APICS certification is a plus.

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Full remote work flexibility and autonomy.
• Opportunity to impact production efficiency and supply chain operations significantly.
• Professional development and training opportunities.
• Work with a collaborative and supportive remote team.
• Contribute to a well-established manufacturing leader.
• Generous paid time off.