Materials Manager

We are seeking an experienced and highly organised Production Planning Manager to lead the planning and scheduling function within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and executing production plans that maximise manufacturing efficiency, optimise inventory levels, and ensure customer orders are delivered on time and in full.

Working closely with Operations, Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Sales, and Customer Service, the Production Planning Manager will balance demand with manufacturing capacity, ensuring the effective utilisation of people, equipment, and materials while driving continuous improvement across planning processes.

This role requires a proactive leader with strong analytical skills, excellent commercial awareness, and a proven ability to manage complex production schedules within a high-volume manufacturing operation.

Key Responsibilities:

Production Planning & Scheduling
Develop, implement, and manage short, medium, and long-term production plans aligned with customer demand and business objectives.
Create detailed production schedules that optimise labour, machinery, and material utilisation.
Monitor production capacity and identify constraints, implementing solutions to maximise operational efficiency.
Ensure production plans are achievable while maintaining high service levels and operational flexibility.
Review daily production performance and adjust schedules to minimise disruption.
Coordinate production priorities across multiple manufacturing lines or facilities.
Manage finite capacity planning to ensure optimum use of manufacturing resources.
Demand & Supply Planning
Collaborate with Sales and Customer Service to review customer forecasts and order requirements.
Translate sales forecasts into achievable manufacturing plans.
Work closely with Procurement to ensure raw materials and components are available to support production schedules.
Monitor inventory levels to balance stock availability with inventory carrying costs.
Support Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) activities through accurate demand and capacity reporting.
Inventory Management
Maintain optimal inventory levels for raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods.
Minimise obsolete and excess inventory through effective planning and forecasting.
Identify opportunities to improve inventory turnover and working capital performance.
Monitor stock accuracy and support cycle counting activities.
Operational Performance
Drive improvements in production schedule adherence and manufacturing efficiency.
Monitor key performance indicators including:
Schedule adherence
On-Time In-Full (OTIF)
Production attainment
Inventory accuracy
Capacity utilisation
Forecast accuracy
Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
Produce regular planning reports and performance dashboards for senior management.
Team Leadership
Lead, mentor, and develop the Production Planning team.
Establish clear objectives and performance measures.
Promote a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and collaboration.
Conduct regular performance reviews and identify development opportunities.
Continuous Improvement
Identify planning inefficiencies and implement process improvements.
Lead planning improvement projects to reduce lead times and improve customer service.
Support Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
Standardise planning procedures and ensure best practice is followed across the business.
Drive improvements in ERP planning parameters and system accuracy.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Work closely with Manufacturing Managers to optimise production flow.
Partner with Procurement to manage supplier constraints and material shortages.
Collaborate with Engineering regarding new product introductions and engineering changes.
Support Quality teams in managing production priorities relating to quality issues.
Communicate effectively with Customer Service regarding delivery commitments and schedule changes.
Systems & Data Management
Maintain accurate planning data within ERP/MRP systems.
Ensure Bills of Materials, routings, and planning parameters remain accurate.
Analyse production data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
Develop planning reports using Excel, Power BI, or similar reporting tools.

Key Skills & Experience:

Proven experience as a Production Planning Manager, Planning Manager, Supply Chain Planning Manager, or Senior Production Planner within a manufacturing environment.
Strong knowledge of production planning, scheduling, forecasting, and capacity planning.
Experience using ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, Infor, Epicor, or similar.
Excellent understanding of manufacturing processes and lean principles.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills; experience with Power BI or similar reporting tools is advantageous.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to prioritise multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
Strong leadership and team development capability.
Qualifications
Degree or equivalent qualification in Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing, Business, Engineering, or a related discipline.
APICS/CPIM, CILT, or relevant professional qualification desirable.
Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification advantageous