Production Planner Lead

SUMMARY:
An opportunity exists for a Production Planning Lead within a flexible packaging manufacturing environment in Durban. The role is responsible for overseeing end-to-end production planning and scheduling, demand and capacity management, inventory coordination, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure optimal production flow and on-time customer delivery.

POSITION INFO:
Minimum Qualification and Experience: Matric or NQF level 4 NQF Level 6 National Diploma \/ Degree in Supply Chain or Related Qualifications (mandatory) Experience with production planning software Advanced excel skill Minimum 5 years in Flexible Packaging Manufacturing Industry (mandatory) Responsibilities: Production Planning & Scheduling Develop and maintain short-term, medium-term, and long-term production schedules based on customer demand Coordinate production plans across printing, laminating, slitting, extrusion, pouch-making, and finishing departments. Monitor daily production performance and adjust plans to accommodate changing delivery priorities. Prioritize orders based on customer requirements, delivery dates, and business needs. Demand & Capacity Management Review customer forecasts and sales orders to create achievable production plans. Conduct capacity planning to identify bottlenecks and recommend solutions. Balance production demand against available labor, machine capacity, and raw materials. Work closely with Sales and Customer Service teams on demand fluctuations and delivery commitments. Inventory & Material Planning Coordinate with factory and warehouse teams to ensure timely availability of raw materials and all relevant components required for production i.e cylinders, cores. Monitor WIP inventory levels and work with HODs to unlock operational bottlenecks and accelerate production flow, ensuring completion of all jobs Supply Chain Coordination Collaborate with Production, Maintenance, Quality Assurance, Logistics, and Procurement teams. Ensure production schedules align with customer delivery requirements. Manage schedule changes due to machine breakdowns, urgent orders, or material shortages. Facilitate effective communication between departments to ensure smooth workflow. Continuous Improvement Identify planning process improvements to increase operational effectiveness. Participate in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Continuous Improvement projects. Support ERP\/MRP system enhancements and optimization initiatives. Lead planning-related projects aimed at improving customer service and reducing costs. Leadership competencies Strong leadership, cross-functional co-ordination, stakeholder influencing capabilities Analytical, data-driven and highly structured problem-solving skills High level of responsiveness, agility and ability to handle high-pressure manufacturing environments Proactive, solution-oriented leader with exceptional communication skills