Production Planning Lead
On behalf of our client, we are looking for a Production Planning Lead who combines strong operational expertise with analytical thinking and the ability to drive change. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring an effective production planning process, developing the planning team, and improving the stability and predictability of production plan execution.
This role is suited to a professional who wants to go beyond day-to-day scheduling and actively contribute to transforming and optimizing production planning across the organization. The ability to identify root causes of operational challenges, translate data into actionable insights, and drive improvements across the entire supply chain will be key to success.
Key Responsibilities
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Manage the production planning process across short-, medium-, and long-term planning horizons.
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Coordinate the work of the production planning team and support its professional development.
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Ensure effective collaboration between Planning, Production, Procurement, Logistics, Warehouse, and Customer Service.
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Analyze the end-to-end planning process, from demand identification through to production plan execution.
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Identify the root causes of frequent schedule changes, operational disruptions, and planning instability.
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Initiate and implement improvements to increase Production Plan Adherence and finished goods availability.
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Develop performance metrics, reporting tools, and dashboards to support data-driven decision-making.
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Leverage data analytics, automation, and AI tools to optimize planning processes and proactively identify potential risks.
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Standardize processes and implement solutions that reduce reactive problem-solving and promote a proactive approach to planning.
Requirements
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At least 5 years of experience in production planning within a manufacturing environment.
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Experience coordinating production planners or managing a team.
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Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate data into practical, actionable insights.
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Proven experience in delivering process improvement and optimization projects.
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Hands-on experience with SAP is essential.
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Ability to identify root causes of operational issues and translate findings into concrete business solutions.
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A proactive mindset, a high degree of autonomy, and a strong sense of ownership for process development.
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Very good command of English.