Supply Production Planner

NicheHR LLP; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 700 000; Full time

Job summary

A reputable supply chain company is seeking a Production & Supply Planner in Johannesburg, South Africa. The role involves ensuring coordination between demand planning, production, and logistics to achieve optimal inventory levels. Candidates should have a bachelor's degree in a related field and 4-6 years of experience in production or supply planning. Proficiency in SAP and Excel is crucial. Competitive compensation and growth opportunities are offered.

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.
• Convert demand plans into RM/PM requirements using SAP MRP.
• Optimize RM, PM, and FG inventory in line with company norms.
• Collaborate with various teams for end-to-end supply chain alignment.
• Generate daily/weekly reports on production status and material availability.

Skills

SAP (PP / MM modules)

Advanced Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, Power Query)

Analytical skills

Strong coordination skills

Problem-solving abilities

Communication skills

Education

Bachelors 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. The role demands strong analytical skills, cross-functional collaboration and expertise in planning systems such as SAP and Excel.

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

Bachelors 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 > 70%
• SLOB % of Total Inventory

MIS Reports

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