Planning Manager

Overview:

The Planning Manager is responsible for overseeing the planning and coordination of finished goods production, ensuring that manufacturing processes run smoothly, efficiently, and meet customer demands. This role ensures a seamless supply of materials to support manufacturing operations, optimizing inventory levels, minimizing costs, and maintaining high service levels. The Planning Manager will collaborate with suppliers, internal teams, and other departments to achieve operational goals.

Responsibilities:

• Production Planning: Develop and implement strategies for the efficient planning of production requirements while maintaining optimal inventory levels. This would include raw materials, trims, and finished goods.
• Demand Forecasting: Analyze production schedules, historical data, and market trends to create accurate forecasts for raw material and trim requirements, ensuring availability without overstocking.
• Inventory Management: Monitor raw material inventory levels to ensure adequate stock is available for production. Implement inventory control measures to minimize waste, shrinkage, and holding costs.
• Procurement Coordination: Work closely with the procurement department to place timely orders for raw materials, ensuring suppliers meet lead time and quality standards.
• Capacity Planning: Assess production capacity and adjust production plan to ensure efficient use of resources, including labor, machines, and materials.
• Troubleshooting: Resolve production bottlenecks, delays, and issues related to raw materials, equipment, or staffing.
• Performance Monitoring: Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as production efficiency, lead times, and on-time delivery rates. Use data to continuously improve planning processes.
• Supplier Management: Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers to ensure consistent material supply, negotiate pricing and delivery terms, and resolve any supply chain issues.
• Lead Time Optimization: Collaborate with suppliers to shorten lead times and improve on-time delivery for all production processes.
• Production Support: Ensure raw materials are available for production schedules, avoiding delays due to material shortages and providing solutions for any supply chain disruptions.
• Process Improvement: Continuously assess and identify areas of improvement in production processes, implementing lean principles, and recommending system or workflow improvements. Reduce waste, improve efficiency, and increase production capacity.
• Cost Management: Optimize production costs through efficient planning, bulk purchasing, and negotiating favorable supplier contracts.
• Reporting & Analysis: Prepare and present production reports to senior management on material usage, highlighting any issues, procurement activities, and any challenges affecting material supply. Provide actionable insights to senior management.
• Collaboration: Coordinate with production, quality control, logistics, and other departments to align raw material availability with production requirements and timelines.
• Compliance & Quality Assurance: Ensure compliance with safety, regulatory, and quality standards for all production activities and ensure that all materials meet the required specifications.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field. A Master’s degree or professional certifications (e.g., APICS) is a plus.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in planning, apparel production, or supply chain management.
• Strong knowledge of apparel manufacturing processes, production planning, and inventory management software (e.g., ERP, SAP, or similar).
• Advanced proficiency in MS Excel (for data analysis, reporting, and modeling).
• Strong understanding of supply chain processes, production schedules, and inventory control.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to adapt to changing conditions.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills for working with suppliers and internal teams.
• Ability to work under pressure and handle multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Leadership and team management.
• Analytical and strategic thinking.
• Strong organizational and time management abilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across different departments.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles.
• The role may require occasional overtime or weekend work, particularly during peak production periods.
• Some travel may be required to visit suppliers or manufacturing sites.

The base salary range for this position is $90,000-$105,000 per year which represents the current range for the base salary for this exempt position. Please note that actual salaries will vary based on factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. As such, on occasion and when applicable, there is the possibility that the final, agreed-upon base salary may be outside of the upper end of the range. Please also note the range listed is just one component of the company’s total rewards package for exempt employees. Other rewards may include performance bonuses, long term incentives, a PTO policy, and many other progressive benefits.