Planning and Inventory Manager - FMCG - Midrand

SUMMARY:
Planning and Inventory Manager

POSITION INFO:
Planning and Inventory Manager The Planning and Inventory Manager is responsible for coordinating production planning, inventory, purchasing and warehouse activities to ensure that products are available when needed, customer orders are met on time, and stock is managed efficiently. The role uses SAP and other planning tools to balance demand, production capacity, stock levels and cost. It also leads reporting and continuous improvement to improve service, productivity and overall factory performance. Production Planning • Develop and maintain short- and long-term production plans in SAP, using available planning tools to match customer demand with production capacity and inventory targets. • Prepare, communicate and manage the production plan, ensuring it is completed and shared on time. • Identify and communicate constraints that may affect production, service levels or other business units. • Track production plan adherence, including ATP% and SKU-level MPS%, and report performance at production meetings. • Maintain visibility of the plant's workload over a rolling 52-week period and work with plant leaders to resolve capacity constraints and manage costs. • Consider product requirements, including allergens, colour impact, efficiency and other relevant production constraints. Inventory Management • Work closely with Supply Chain and Customer Services to plan orders and support on-time customer deliveries. • Manage inventory levels to meet business needs while reducing excess stock, slow-moving and obsolete stock (SLOB), and unnecessary costs. • Forecast inventory requirements, contribute to the annual inventory budget, review variances and implement corrective actions. • Maintain accurate inventory information and support compliance with relevant audit requirements and internal controls. • Work with internal stakeholders to improve inventory visibility, service levels and stock-management processes. Production Process and Reporting •Maintain and improve planning systems, processes and company standards. •Prepare and share KPI reports on service levels, production-plan adherence, losses, efficiency and inventory performance. •Review finished-goods SLOB and potential SLOB weekly, and report inventory performance to management monthly. •Coordinate new product introductions and product discontinuations to reduce the risk of write-offs. •Maintain a write-off tracker and share updates with relevant departments. •Work with production team leaders to monitor Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and support stable, efficient production. Continuous Improvement •Identify and lead improvements across production planning, inventory, purchasing and warehouse processes. •Support continuous improvement initiatives that improve factory efficiency, productivity and total cost. •Work with cross-functional teams to embed standard processes, clear targets and a culture of continuous improvement. •Coordinate communication between Planning, Scheduling, Distribution, Procurement, Finance, Quality Assurance, Research and Development, and customers. •Analyse performance data, identify root causes of problems and maintain clear weekly or monthly action plans. •Coach and develop team members in planning, inventory management, capacity planning and related processes. Buying and Warehouse Management •Coordinate sourcing and purchasing of raw materials, packaging and components in line with production requirements. •Support demand forecasting and ensure materials are available when required. •Oversee and support warehouse operations, including the movement of raw materials. •Coordinate warehouse workflows, staffing, storage space, equipment layout and use of resources. • Monitor stock held in warehouse and ensure that stock is available for production Requirements: Bachelor's degree in business administration, supply chain management, inventory management, operation management or related field. APICS, CPIM • 5 years in Production / manufacturing, Planning, Inventory and Supply Chain roles working with customers and sound understanding of FMCG company environment. • Exposure to international Audit requirements • Demonstration of leadership abilities, solid management skills and success in developing and leading continuous improvement with proven results. • FMCG / Manufacturing experience • Using market forecasts and competitive analysis to anticipate necessary production changes. • Critical-thinking skills to establish action plans and routinely assess their effectiveness. • Organizational skills to manage multiple moving pieces, people and orders. • Problem-solving skills to anticipate problems before they happen and handle them appropriately when they do. • Properly order new supplies avoiding excessive surplus or inefficiencies • Analyze various suppliers to ensure the company is receiving the best cost-effective deals. • Planning, scheduling and coordinating production of the company's products. • Evaluating raw materials and equipment to ensure everything is in place for production. • Handling production disruptions and productivity problems • Watching costs to ensure the production process stays within budget. R60 - R70 000pm CTC Send cv to