Assistant Manager, Production Planning and Control - TJ / 1939061

Our client, Recruit AI, is seeking an Assistant Manager for Production Planning and Control based in Karachi. This role is crucial in managing and optimizing the production planning process to ensure smooth and efficient manufacturing operations. The incumbent will be responsible for preparing detailed production plans on a monthly, weekly, and daily basis, taking into account customer orders, forecast data, and available capacity. They will also develop and maintain production schedules, quickly adapting to disruptions such as equipment failures, material shortages, or shifting priorities.

The position requires close collaboration with various departments including purchasing, stores, sales, dispatch, quality, and engineering to guarantee material availability, timely deliveries, and uninterrupted production flow. Accurate data entry and maintenance within ERP/SAP systems are essential, along with supporting continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency.

A strong grasp of material requirements planning, production scheduling, inventory control, and production monitoring within a manufacturing environment is necessary. Candidates should have approximately three years of hands-on experience in production planning or materials management, preferably within non-automotive sectors such as capital goods, engineering products, FMCG, electrical, or process industries. The ideal candidate is analytical, disciplined, adaptable, and possesses excellent communication skills to work effectively across multiple teams.

While this role does not involve direct team management, it demands effective cross-functional coordination to meet production targets and ensure customer delivery commitments are fulfilled accurately and on time.

Key Responsibilities

- Develop monthly, weekly, and daily production plans based on customer orders, forecasts, and resource capacity.
- Create and maintain detailed production schedules, promptly adjusting for equipment breakdowns, material shortages, or changes in priorities.
- Execute material requirements planning by calculating inventory needs from bills of materials (BOMs) and coordinating with purchasing and inventory teams to ensure timely supply.
- Monitor raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods inventories to control excess stock, reduce slow-moving items, and prevent stock-outs.
- Track progress against production plans, identify bottlenecks, and collaborate with production and maintenance teams to implement corrective actions.
- Coordinate with sales and dispatch departments to align delivery schedules with production status and capabilities.
- Prepare and distribute regular reports comparing planned versus actual production, on-time delivery performance, WIP status, material shortages, and capacity utilization.
- Maintain accurate production-related data in ERP/SAP systems, including routings, BOMs, lead times, and work orders.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives such as reducing lead times, line balancing, and applying lean manufacturing or related methodologies.
- Collaborate with quality assurance and engineering teams to integrate new product introductions and manage changes impacting production planning.
- Apply analytical skills to identify process improvement opportunities and proactively address production planning challenges.
- Communicate effectively across departments to ensure smooth operations and timely resolution of issues affecting production schedules.

Required Qualifications

- Approximately three years of practical experience in production planning or materials management.
- Experience preferably in non-automotive manufacturing sectors such as capital goods, engineering products, FMCG, electrical, or process industries.
- Strong understanding of material requirements planning, production scheduling, inventory control, and production monitoring.
- Proficiency in ERP/SAP systems for production data management.
- Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively across multiple departments and adapt to changing priorities.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits

While specific benefits are not listed, candidates with experience in continuous improvement methodologies such as lean manufacturing and those who demonstrate adaptability and strong cross-functional coordination skills will be highly valued. This role offers the opportunity to contribute significantly to production efficiency and operational excellence within a dynamic manufacturing environment.