Production Planning & Inventory Control Manager

Job Purpose: The Manager of Production Planning & Inventory Control is responsible for overseeing and optimizing demand forecasting, production planning, and product lifecycle processes to ensure efficient and effective operations. This role includes the functional responsibility of Master Scheduling and Inventory Control, along with leading a Production Planning team. This role plays a critical part in driving data-driven decision-making and collaboration across departments to balance supply and demand while improving service levels and reducing costs. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills, experience with planning tools, and the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Master Scheduling

• Serve as the functional role of Master Scheduler for the organization
• Lead demand forecasting strategies and processes, including the development of annual build plans for Make to Stock (MTS) items, Make to Order (MTO) capacity, Engineer to Order (ETO) capacity, and manufacturing staffing levels for approximately 30 production lines
• Monitor the expected vs actual for customer demand and manufacturing output, and adjust plans to ensure lead times remain low and customer orders are shipped on time
• Produce daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports that enable effective strategic decision making
• Demonstrate strong analytical skills and data-based decision making to ensure smooth operations and to positively impact organizational profitability
• Use critical and strategic thinking capabilities to define a “Point B” future state vision that drives the organization to improved supply chain effectiveness and enables the organization to effectively respond to changing market dynamics

Inventory Control

• Responsible for product lifecycle of all Finished Goods, from item setup to obsolescence
• Make strategic and tactical decisions to effectively manage finished goods inventory levels to balance customer demand with cash investments and inventory space
• Manage the obsolescence process of all finished goods items and coordinate obsolescence processes with purchasing for raw materials items
• Serve as Subject Matter Expert on the ERP system (AX 2012 / Microsoft Dynamics 365) and ensure processes are followed related to finished goods inventory items and production planning

Production Planning

• Develop and implement production planning strategies to optimize inventory levels and meet customer demand
• Apply the Anchor Leader Mindset to lead the Production Planning Team to achieve KPIs, including Schedule Attainment, On Time Shipment, and Planned Inventory Levels
• Ensure large or complex orders are managed cross-functionally for smooth operations
• Develop, train, and mentor planning team, leading to a cross-trained team, effective distribution of work, and strong succession planning
• Develop planning team members’ capabilities to use data analysis and critical thinking to make daily planning decisions and to identify trends for medium-term and long-term decision making
• Enable productivity improvements in production lines by understanding and creating an optimized flow of products manufactured within each production cell
• Work closely with purchasing to ensure special order raw material items are available for production when needed
• Apply the Anchor Performance System (APS) values, principles, and methods to implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance planning efficiency and to create customer value
• Drive process standardization and automation to improve accuracy and efficiency
• Use Anchor’s Structured Problem-Solving methodology (6-Step) to drive sustainable improvement and problem solving
• Maintain strong collaborative relationships with sales, planning, engineering, manufacturing, and shipping; Ensure planning serves as the coordinator, aligning the team across the different departmental interests

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business, Engineering, or a related field or equivalent experience
• Minimum of 5-7 years experience in production planning, demand forecasting, or inventory management, or equivalent operations management experience
• Minimum of 5 years experience leading people
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and ERP systems (Microsoft Dynamics 365 preferred but not required)
• Experience with statistical analysis, forecasting models, and data visualization tools
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive collaborative solutions
• Strong project management skills with a results-oriented mindset
• Proven ability to demonstrate efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and tools
• Ability to consistently demonstrate Anchor’s REACH foundational values
• Effective written and verbal communication skills

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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This position requires sitting for a large portion of the workday.
• Frequent walking, reaching, handling/grasping,
• Occasional standing, lifting up to 20 lbs., bending, stooping, squatting, pushing/pulling, kneeling, crouching, cervical twisting, torso twisting, climbing, crawling, and driving.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust/focus.

Relationship and Roles:

• This position will report directly to the VP of Supply Chain
• This position will lead direct reports in the Planning department
• This position interacts with all levels of Anchor employees, customers, vendors and others as needed

EOE M/F/D/V A/A We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.