Summary: The Procurement and Production Planning Manager is part of the Operations Leadership Team, working strategically and collaboratively with managers of other functional areas along with the Executive Team in support of the company’s vision and core values. This individual will lead and direct the areas of supply chain, planning and master scheduling across all divisions. They will be responsible for facilitating a culture of continuous improvement and safety in a team environment.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Manages the Purchasing and Production Control departments to plan and complete projects:

• Determines project feasibility by identifying and forecasting material needs and collaborates with Sales, Engineering, and Production Teams to define project requirements.
• Maintains a good rapport with other functional departments to ensure that solutions are comprehensive and efficient.
• Develops an information system that specifies file storage and sharing requirements for the department.
• Establish KPIs and meet or exceed objectives for vendor performance, safety, quality, on-time in-full delivery and order accuracy.
• Oversees all planning, master scheduling and job creation activities in the ERP system for manufacturing through production assembly.
  
  

Establishes, monitors, maintains and modifies the production, purchasing and inventory plans:

• Lead analysis of inventory levels, recommendations for lead time reduction strategies, and implement plans to improve material flows and reduce costs of goods.
• Determines production priorities by analyzing customer requirements and production capabilities.
• Modifies production priorities to ensure successful on time delivery.
• Publishes master production schedule and presents to operations managers and executives monthly.
• Monitors production by comparing production schedule to actual and prepares reports on production and downtime data.
• Develops automated tools to help analyze and reclassify stocked inventory items more frequently to improve inventory turns, fill rates, while reducing overall inventory.
• Facilitates inventory turnover by determining maximum and minimum inventory levels and reorder quantities.
• Maintains optimal inventory levels by forecasting demand, monitoring stock levels, and coordinating with Production and Planning Teams.
• Implements inventory control measures to minimize excess or obsolete inventory and ensure adequate supply for uninterrupted production.
  
  

Capacity Management:

• Evaluates production capacity and resources, including equipment, labor, and materials, to ensure optimal utilization.
• Identifies bottlenecks and constraints that may impact production output and collaborate with relevant departments to address them.
• Plans for capacity expansion or reduction as per business requirements.
  
  

Manages Supplier Relationships:

• Sources new suppliers and qualified second-source suppliers, and maintain strategic relationships with existing vendors including periodically renegotiating pricing and terms of sale.
• Develops procurement sources by contacting vendors, obtaining samples, and scheduling product demonstrations.
• Prepares supplier reports to document and analyze cost, quality, vendor reliability, lead times, and other information.
• Addresses defective equipment or materials with vendors and resolve disputes.
• Leads efforts to reduce material costs and negotiates supplier agreements.
  
  

Maintains Procurement Operations:

• Develops robust policies and procedures to ensure verification of shipments, control costs, schedule deliveries, assess product performance, and manage inventories.
• Proactively monitors and communicates inbound vendor-specific quality issues or product shipment delays on a regular and timely basis ahead of scheduled arrival dates and seeks alternate solutions to avoid production delays and missing customer shipping timelines.
• Oversees material quality by partnering with engineering to define quality standards.
  
  

Procurement Cost Optimization:

• Identifies cost-saving opportunities by analyzing pricing trends, evaluating alternative suppliers, and implementing effective negotiation strategies.
• Continuously seeks ways to improve procurement processes, reduce expenses, and increase efficiency without compromising quality.
  
  

Procurement Risk Management:

• Assesses and mitigates risks associated with the procurement process, such as supply chain disruptions, quality issues, and regulatory compliance.
• Develops contingency plans and alternative sourcing strategies to minimize potential disruptions to the production process.
  
  

Promotes and supports safe work behaviors

• Actively contributes to safety committee as well as leads and supports safety efforts on the production floor
• Ensures processes adhere to safety and environmental requirements
  
  

Communicates regularly with the Manufacturing Departments

• Attends weekly Operations staff meetings and takes additional steps as needed to ensure critical issues are communicated and appropriate actions are taking place to achieve tactical plans
• Channels mission specific communication to appropriate personnel to ensure special needs are met
• Address staffing challenges or procedural issues to support the schedule
  
  

Manages staff respectfully

• Maintains open and honest communication with direct reports
• Periodically communicates clear expectations, monitors project and task results, documents constructive coaching throughout the year and during the annual review process
• Enforces policies and procedures to ensure organizational consistency
• Maintains professionalism and confidentiality in employee selection, performance management, and employee relations
• Analyze and provide training opportunities and mentors employees to expand knowledge base and promote problem solving skills
  
  

Develops Human Resources:

• Trains and mentors employees to expand knowledge base and promote problem solving.
• Assess developmental needs within the team and facilitate activities to address them.
• Delegates effectively to develop and identify new leaders within the company.
  
  

Achieves financial objectives

• Prepares an annual budget by forecasting functional requirements, analyzing trends, and presenting budget recommendations
• Manages to budget by scheduling expenditures, analyzing variances, and initiating corrective actions; reports out on variances
• Leads cost reduction efforts by reducing costs associated with processes and reducing inefficiencies
  
  

Leads the continuous improvement effort

• Documents processes and procedures, eliminates non-value-added activities, and participates in cross functional CI teams
• Facilitate continuous improvement, on-going cost reduction efforts, and the elimination of practices that create waste, rework or warranty
• Drives the completion of department continuous improvement goals and objectives
• Audit CI team participation, evaluate ideas before they are worked, provide feedback to the team to direct efforts to improve KPIs
  
  

Maintains professional and technical knowledge

• Establishes personal networks, participates in professional societies, attends professional workshops and reviews publications.
  
  

Contributes To Team Effort:

• Willing to attempt new assignments or fill in for others as needed; accomplishes other duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills And/or Abilities:

Knowledge

Software

• MRP/ERP Software (Infor M3 preferred)
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PPT, Outlook)
• Vault
  
  

Skills

• Organizational, Interpersonal communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Management and leadership skills; has the ability to inspire and motivate staff
• Analytical
• Project/Process Management
• Clerical/Secretarial
• Written and Oral Communication
  
  

Abilities

• Strong technical aptitude
• Ability to deal with abstract and concrete variables with a high attention to detail
• Ability to provide a respectful work environment for others
• Ability to work well with others in a team atmosphere.
  
  

Education And/or Experience:

• Bachelors Degree in Business Administration or related field
• Seven years of professional and management experience.
• Proven experience in production control or planning within a manufacturing environment.
• In-depth knowledge of production planning and scheduling techniques, inventory management, and capacity planning.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles, Six Sigma methodologies, or other process improvement techniques.
• Proficiency in using production planning software and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
  
  

Physical Demands. The Physical Demands Described Here Are Representative Of Those That Must Be Met By An Employee To Successfully Perform The Essential Functions Of This Job. Reasonable Accommodations May Be Made To Enable Individuals With Disabilities To Perform The Essential Functions):

Constant (over 66%)

None

Frequent (33%-66%)

Sitting, Standing

Occasional (10%-33%)

Walking, Lifting from up to 50 pounds

Seldom (1-10%)

Carrying up to 10 pounds

Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions).

Office environment: Employees are protected from weather conditions or contaminants but not necessarily occasional temperature changes.

Noise: There is sufficient noise to cause you to shout to be heard above the noise level.

Hazards: Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, moving vehicles, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, or exposure to chemicals.

Required Personal Protection Equipment (PPE’s): Safety glasses, hearing protection as required. Other PPE as required by specific operation performed.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education And/or Experience:

• Bachelors Degree in Business Administration or related field
• Seven years of professional and management experience.
• Proven experience in production control or planning within a manufacturing environment.
• In-depth knowledge of production planning and scheduling techniques, inventory management, and capacity planning.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles, Six Sigma methodologies, or other process improvement techniques.
• Proficiency in using production planning software and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.