Production Planner at JMG

JOB PURPOSE

• The production Planner will coordinate, plan, and monitor the production schedule to ensure the efficient utilization of resources (machinery, manpower, and materials) while meeting customer demand, minimizing waste, and maintaining JMG Limited’s quality standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Production Scheduling & Planning

• Develop detailed daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules based on sales forecasts, inventory levels, and customer orders.
• Translate the Master Production Schedule (MPS) into actionable shift plans for the factory floor.
• Balance production runs with changeover times to maximize Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).

Inventory & Materials Management

• Liaise with the procurement team to ensure the availability of raw materials and packaging components are aligned with the production plan.
• Monitor stock levels of finished goods to prevent stock-outs or overstocking, ensuring optimal inventory turnover.
• Track and manage Work-in-Progress (WIP) to avoid bottlenecks.

Coordination & Communication

• Act as the primary liaison between the Sales, Warehouse, and Production teams to reconcile demand with production capacity.
• Facilitate pre-production meetings to communicate schedule changes, priorities, or constraints to the production supervisors.
• Coordinate with maintenance teams to schedule planned downtime and preventive maintenance without disrupting critical orders.

Data Analysis & Reporting

• Monitor production output against the plan and report on variances (e.g., plan vs. actual).
• Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as schedule adherence, downtime, and waste/scrap rates.
• Identify potential production constraints and propose solutions to management.

Continuous Improvement

• Participate in lean manufacturing initiatives (5S, Kaizen) to improve workflow and reduce lead times.
• Regularly review planning parameters (lead times, batch sizes, safety stock) for accuracy.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree (B.Sc. / HND) in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering, or any related field.
• Preferred: A Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) or Supply Chain Management is an added advantage.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Level: 3 – 5 years of experience in a manufacturing/production planning role.
• Industry Preference: Experience in the FMCG (Food/Beverage) or Plastics/Manufacturing sector is highly desirable.
• ERP Experience: Proven hands-on experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, or AX) is mandatory.

KEY COMPETENCIES & SKILLS

Technical Skills:

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel (Pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, Macros) for data analysis.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes, capacity planning, and supply chain dynamics.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and inventory management (FIFO, JIT).

Behavioral/Soft Skills:

• Problem-Solving: Ability to react quickly to machine breakdowns or material shortages and reschedule efficiently.
• Communication: Strong interpersonal skills to manage relationships with sales teams (demand) and factory teams (supply).
• Attention to Detail: Accuracy in data entry and schedule creation to prevent costly production errors.
• Resilience: Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.