Production Planning Director
Job Purpose/Objective:
The Production Planning Director oversees and optimizes production planning processes. This position requires a strategic thinker with excellent leadership and communication skills, as well as a deep understanding of lean manufacturing principles and supply chain management. The incumbent will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to ensure efficient and cost-effective production operations.
Key Accountabilities:
Develop and implement comprehensive production planning strategies and processes to meet production targets, optimize resource utilization and minimize lead times.
Oversee the production planning team, providing leadership, guidance, and mentorship to ensure high performance and continuous improvement.
Collaborate with the COO and other key stakeholders to establish production goals, budgets, and timelines.
Monitor and analyze production data, including capacity utilization, lead times, and inventory levels, to identify areas for improvement and drive operational efficiency.
Lead the development and execution of production schedules, considering customer demand, resource availability, and production capacity.
Coordinate with procurement, technical support, and quality assurance teams to ensure the timely availability of materials, components, and resources for production.
Implement and maintain appropriate production planning systems, tools, and technology platforms to support effective decision-making and enable accurate forecasting.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and resolve production-related issues, including bottlenecks, quality concerns, and supply chain disruptions.
Stay updated on industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in production planning and supply chain management and proactively recommend and implement improvements.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, teamwork, and collaboration within the production planning department and across the organization.
Performs other job-related duties, as assigned by the line manager.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent
Experience:
Minimum 12 years of experience as an Operations, Production Planning or similar role in the manufacturing and maintenance of:
Internal combustion engines
Marine propulsion systems
Power generation equipment
MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) operations
Person Specification:
Proficiency in using specialized production planning software and enterprise resource planning Specification (ERP) systems.
Ability to assess production capacity, including machine capabilities and labor availability.
Knowledge of lean principles, such as just-in-time (JIT) production, waste reduction.
Understanding how to create and manage BOMs.
Ability to allocate resources effectively.
Awareness of quality control procedures and the ability to integrate quality standards into the production planning process.
Proficiency in analyzing production costs, including direct and indirect costs.
Understanding how to coordinate with suppliers and manage the supply chain.
Familiarity with key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics related to production efficiency.
Capability to interpret technical drawings and specifications.
Proficiency in data analysis tools to evaluate production performance.
Understanding of project management principles and tools to plan and execute production related projects and initiatives.