Production Planning Supervisor

Role Purpose

The Planning Supervisor leads day‑to‑day planning and scheduling activities to ensure production plans, material availability, and order fulfillment commitments are achieved safely, accurately, and on time. This role serves as a key link between Sales, Production, Supply Chain, and Logistics, while directly supervising a team of planners or planning specialists. The Planning Supervisor is accountable for schedule integrity, execution tracking, continuous improvement, and team development in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

Planning Leadership & Team Supervision

• Supervise, mentor, and develop planning staff, serving as a positive role model with strong work ethic and attention to quality.
• Review team outputs for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to planning standards and procedures.
• Provide daily direction, priority setting, and workload balancing across the planning team.
• Support onboarding, training, and performance feedback for planning personnel.
• Reinforce safety expectations and ensure safe work practices are consistently followed.

Production & Order Planning

• Develop and maintain master production schedules based on customer demand, work orders, capacity constraints, and material availability.
• Review incoming orders for feasibility, timing, and alignment with capacity plans.
• Coordinate with Production, Engineering, Procurement, and Sales to resolve conflicts and adjust plans as needed.
• Ensure schedules are executable, optimized, and aligned with plant priorities and labor capability.

Execution Monitoring & Issue Resolution

• Track execution against daily and weekly production plans, identifying gaps and risks early.
• Lead problem‑solving efforts for schedule disruptions, shortages, equipment constraints, or labor limitations.
• Communicate status updates, risks, and mitigation plans clearly to internal stakeholders.
• Drive corrective actions and follow‑up to minimize customer impact and recovery delays.

Cross‑Functional Coordination

• Act as the primary planning contact for internal and external stakeholders, including Sales, Operations, and Logistics.
• Ensure timely and accurate communication across functions to support order fulfillment and operational continuity.
• Align planning activities with broader operational goals, inventory strategies, and customer commitments.

Data, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Analyze planning and execution data including schedule adherence, lead times, backlog, and exception trends.
• Prepare and present planning performance reports to management.
• Identify recurring issues and lead continuous improvement initiatives related to planning accuracy, efficiency, and responsiveness.
• Support system discipline and data integrity within ERP, MES, or related planning tools.

Shift & Shop‑Floor Support

• Coordinate pre‑shift planning activities, post‑shift reviews, and schedule adjustments as required.
• Support shop‑floor teams by clarifying priorities, resolving planning‑related questions, and adjusting plans in real time when needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, Business, or a related technical field.
• 3–5 years of experience in production planning, scheduling, order management, or supply chain roles within a manufacturing environment.
• Prior experience leading or mentoring others strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of production scheduling, capacity planning, and material flow.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and strong Excel skills.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data, prioritize work, and communicate effectively across functions.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supervising planners or scheduling teams in a high‑volume manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or operational excellence principles.
• Experience working in regulated or complex manufacturing environments.
• Advanced ERP or planning system experience (SAP, Oracle, MES, or similar).