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

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.

Competencies:

Core:

• Effective Communication
• Commitment and Accountability
• Planning and Organizing
• Client Focus
• Initiative

Leadership:

• Driving Results
• Strategic Thinking
• Coaching and Mentoring
• Visioning and Alignment

Technical:

• Using Production Planning Software
• Production Scheduling
• Supply chain Coordination
• Data Analyst
• Project Management

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

Expertise spans the entire lifecycle of industrial and marine power solutions, from design and production to aftermarket support and servicing.