Production Planning & Control (PPC) Manager

BURN MANUFACTURING • Full-time • Kiambu, Ruiru • 2d ago

About the role
BURN is seeking a Production Planning & Control (PPC) Manager who will oversee the entire production planning and execution process, ensuring that production schedules, throughput targets, and resource allocations are aligned with business objectives.

The individual is responsible for managing both the Production Scheduling Manager and the Production Manager, providing strategic direction, operational oversight, and performance management. The role ensures that Inventory Plans are translated into executable schedules while achieving throughput, efficiency, cost, and quality targets.

They will act as the key link between demand planning, factory operations, and senior management, ensuring that production is efficient, predictable, and aligned with customer commitments.

Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Planning & Production Control

Own the overall production planning and scheduling process for the factory.
Ensure that the Inventory Plan (IP) is feasible and executable across all assembly lines.
Monitor production performance and line capacity, adjusting plans to achieve throughput, efficiency, and cost targets.
Implement process improvements to enhance production flow, reduce bottlenecks, and optimize resource utilization.

Team Management & Leadership

Manage, mentor, and develop the Production Scheduling Manager and Production Manager.
Set performance objectives and review KPIs for both roles, ensuring alignment with factory and organizational goals.
Provide guidance on decision-making related to schedule adjustments, resource allocation, and operational priorities.

Coordination Between Planning & Execution

Ensure tight alignment between the Production Scheduling Manager (planning) and Production Manager (execution).
Facilitate regular PPC meetings to review schedules, throughput targets, material availability, labor readiness, and operational constraints.
Resolve conflicts between planning and execution teams, balancing capacity, resource limitations, and delivery commitments.

KPI Ownership & Performance Management

Own factory-level PPC KPIs, including:
- Production schedule adherence
- Throughput vs target per line
- Cost per unit
- Line efficiency and labor utilization
- On-time completion of Inventory Plans
Monitor performance trends and implement corrective actions to meet operational targets.

Cross-Functional Stakeholder Management

Collaborate with:
- Inventory Planning (IP) Team
- Operations Manager
- Quality, Maintenance, and Warehouse Teams
Ensure smooth communication and escalation of issues between factory operations and planning teams.
Act as the escalation point for all major production planning, scheduling, and execution challenges.

6. Continuous Improvement & Best Practices

Introduce standardized planning, scheduling, and reporting processes.
Identify and implement efficiency improvements across planning and production execution.
Promote a culture of accountability, operational discipline, and proactive problem-solving across PPC teams.

Skills and Experience

Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in factory operations, preferably with at least 5 years in a leadership or managerial role overseeing production planning and execution.
Strong preference for candidates with experience in sheet metal manufacturing, appliances, or similar industrial production environments.
Technical Expertise:
- In-depth understanding of production planning, scheduling, and factory operations.
- Strong knowledge of capacity planning, throughput optimization, WIP and inventory management, and operational KPIs.
- Experience with ERP/MRP or advanced planning systems.
Leadership & Management Skills:
- Proven ability to manage cross-functional teams, including production, scheduling, maintenance, and quality.
- Skilled in coaching, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams.
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to make operational decisions under pressure.
Operational Excellence:
- Demonstrated ability to meet throughput targets, optimize cost per unit, and improve operational efficiency.
- Strong focus on quality, safety, and delivery commitments.
Education: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field preferred. Advanced degrees or certifications in operations management is an advantage.
Personal Attributes:
- Strong analytical and planning skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
- Proactive, results-oriented, and capable of driving change and continuous improvement.

Qualified Female Candidates encouraged to Apply

BURN does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, processing, training, or any other fees).