Planning Manager

The Planning Manager is responsible for leading and coordinating all planning activities across the Fabrics, Yarn, Geo Fabrics, and Grass Carpet plants. This includes material planning, production and demand planning, inventory management, and machine utilization optimization to ensure efficient operations, timely order fulfillment, and optimal resource use. The role requires strong analytical, coordination, and leadership skills to align production capabilities with business objectives and customer demand.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Production and Demand Planning

• Develop and manage short-, medium-, and long-term production plans for all plants based on sales forecasts, customer orders, and capacity.
• Evaluate and translate demand forecasts into executable production schedules, ensuring alignment with sales and operational targets.
• Coordinate with sales, procurement, and operations to balance capacity, demand, and material availability.
• Monitor production performance against plans, identify variances, and implement corrective actions.

2. Material and Inventory Management

• Ensure timely availability of raw materials (yarn, backing materials, resins, etc.) through effective material requirement planning (MRP).
• Maintain optimal inventory levels across raw materials, WIP, and finished goods to balance working capital and service levels.
• Review and control slow-moving and obsolete inventories, initiating disposal or reallocation plans when needed.
• Collaborate with procurement to align supplier deliveries with production schedules.

3. Machine Utilization & Efficiency

• Optimize machine loading and sequencing to maximize utilization, minimize changeovers, and reduce idle time.
• Develop and monitor KPIs for machine efficiency, utilization rate, and capacity performance.
• Work with production and maintenance teams to plan preventive maintenance without impacting delivery schedules.

4. Performance & Reporting

• Prepare and present regular reports on production performance, capacity utilization, inventory status, and planning accuracy.
• Implement planning systems and tools to improve forecasting accuracy, visibility, and decision-making.
• Continuously review and improve planning processes for efficiency and reliability.

5. Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Sales, Procurement, Quality, and Operations to ensure seamless information flow and coordination.
• Lead S&OP (Sales and Operations Planning) meetings to align demand and supply.
• Support new product introductions and trials by ensuring planning and material readiness.

6. Leadership & Development

• Lead, train, and mentor the planning team to build strong analytical and operational capabilities.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, data-driven decision-making, and accountability.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum 8–10 years of experience in production and material planning within the textile or related manufacturing industry.
• Proven experience in managing planning functions for multiple plants or product lines.
• Strong understanding of ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle, Infor, etc.).
• Advanced Excel and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic and analytical thinking.
• Strong organizational and coordination skills.
• Attention to detail with ability to manage complexity.
• Team leadership and stakeholder management.
• Continuous improvement mindset.