Senior Production Planner / Co-Ordinator (Industrialengineer) - East Rand

Level-Up; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A manufacturing company is seeking an experienced Senior Production Manager in Gauteng to lead operations in steel and timber production. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in manufacturing, ERP implementation experience, and a track record in lean production and JIT practices. Responsibilities include optimizing production lines, managing teams, and ensuring quality standards. This pivotal role aims to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in a custom or project-based manufacturing environment.
• Experience in leading production in low-volume-high-variety environments.
• Deep understanding of deadline-driven, specialized manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and optimize all steel and timber production lines.
• Implement ERP or MRP system tailored to manufacturing workflows.
• Manage and coach departmental supervisors and production teams.

Skills

Strong leadership

Change management

Lean manufacturing principles

JIT production

Production software proficiency

Education

Degree in Industrial Engineering

Tools

ERP systems

Production dashboards

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a strategic, experienced Senior Production Manager to lead and professionalize our specialized steel and timber manufacturing operations for retail sector fixtures and fittings.

The ideal candidate will have strong manufacturing industry experience, preferably with an Industrial Engineering background, and a proven track record in ERP system implementation, lean production, and just-in-time (JIT) practices.

This role is critical to transitioning the business from a reactive, ad-hoc manufacturing approach to a streamlined, high-efficiency operation.

You will play a pivotal role in reducing errors and costs, increasing throughput, optimizing staff utilization, and improving scheduling and workflow planning.

Job Description

Position Title: Senior Production Manager

Reporting To: Managing Director / Executive Committee

Responsibilities

• Strategic Production Management: Lead, manage, and optimize all steel and timber production lines to meet quality, cost, and delivery targets.
• Develop and implement production strategies aligned with company growth and client delivery expectations.
• Overhaul existing reaction‑based production model and instil systematic, data‑driven planning and prioritization processes.
• Planning & Workflow Optimization: Design and deploy a centralized production planning system, integrating all job cards and production schedules across departments.
• Prioritize and schedule jobs to ensure optimal resource utilization and deadline adherence.
• Eliminate bottlenecks and avoid a prioritization culture based on loudest demand through structured job tracking and coordination.
• ERP & Systems Implementation: Select and implement an ERP or MRP system tailored to custom manufacturing workflows.
• Lead digitization efforts including job tracking, inventory management, production dashboards, and real‑time performance metrics.
• Lean Manufacturing & JIT Practices: Apply lean manufacturing principles to reduce waste, minimize rework, and improve efficiency.
• Introduce just‑in‑time (JIT) production where appropriate to reduce overproduction, storage costs, and material waste.
• People & Performance Management: Manage and coach departmental supervisors, team leaders, and production teams (both timber and steel).
• Monitor performance KPIs (output, errors, downtime, overtime, etc.) and implement corrective actions where needed.
• Right‑size staffing levels to align with demand while minimizing overtime and excess capacity.
• Quality Assurance & Risk Mitigation: Reduce error rates and production defects through process control, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with costing, design, and installation teams to ensure manufacturability and sequencing integrity.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in a custom or project‑based manufacturing environment (e.g., shopfitting, furniture, steel / timber fabrication, engineering products).
• Degree in Industrial Engineering or related discipline is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in leading production in a multi‑product, low‑volume‑high‑variety environment.
• Implementing ERP / MRP systems from concept to go‑live.
• Applying lean, JIT, and continuous improvement principles in real‑world settings.
• Strong leadership, communication, and change management skills.
• Deep understanding of the challenges in deadline‑driven, specialized manufacturing.
• High proficiency in production software, Excel, and digital dashboards.

Success Measures

• Reduction in overtime and staffing inefficiencies.
• Reduction in error / rework rates.
• Improved lead time adherence.
• Increased production throughput and order tracking visibility.
• Successful implementation of ERP / MRP and planning systems.