Demand & Production Planning Lead

Description

Job Summary

Responsible for developing demand forecasts, preparing daily and weekly production schedules for assigned product lines or departments, and coordinating planning activities with the overall master schedule. Collaborate with Sales, Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Production to align customer demand with material availability, production capacity, inventory requirements, and delivery commitments.

Management Accountability

Production Planning Department

Requirements

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Demand Planning

• Build and maintain statistical demand forecasts using historical sales, market trends; and input from Supply Chain and Sales.
• Lead or participate in Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP), communicating forecast risks, opportunities, and changes in demand.
• Align forecasts with inventory targets, safety stock, replenishment plans, production capacity, and new product introductions.

Production Planning and Scheduling

• Prepare daily and weekly production schedules aligned with master schedule. 
• Review MRP to identify make/buy shortages, create finished goods work orders, and communicate material requirements to Purchasing and fabrication/machining schedulers.
• Coordinate schedule adjustments based on material availability, equipment capacity, staffing, and changing priorities.

Customer Order Management and Expediting

• Provide estimated lead times and ship dates and maintain accurate information utilizing planning tools and processes.
• Work with floor supervision to adjust production priorities, coordinate with external processors on part status, and verify component and finished goods inventory.
• Monitor key customer orders and proactively address issues that may affect delivery commitments.

Cross-Functional Coordination and Leadership

• Lead the weekly Production Planning meeting to review schedules, shortages, priorities, and delivery risks. 
• Collaborate with Sales, Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Production to balance demand, inventory, materials, and capacity.
• Lead and oversee Production Planners, providing direction, coaching, and accountability to drive continuous improvement in forecast accuracy, production planning effectiveness, inventory management, and schedule performance.
• Manage employee performance and development through regular performance reviews, coaching, constructive feedback, and goal setting, while addressing attendance, conduct, performance, and disciplinary matters in accordance with company policies.

Marginal Job Functions

•  Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required; Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, or related field preferred.
• 3-5 years of experience in a material planning, production planning, or demand planning within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of MRP and experience with a modern ERP system, such as SAP, Epicor, or Microsoft Dynamics AX preferred.
• Working knowledge of demand forecasting, inventory management, Lean Manufacturing, and Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) concepts.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the ability to analyze historical sales, inventory, and planning data. 
• Excellent communication, organizational, and cross-functional collaboration skills, with a strong commitment to follow-through and meet deadlines. 
• Experience coaching or mentoring others and participating in production planning or S&OP meetings. 

License or Certificate

• CPIM preferred