Production Planner

About AkzoNobel

Founded in 1792, AkzoNobel is a renowned paints and coatings company supplying innovative solutions globally. With iconic brands such as Dulux, International, Sikkens, and Interpon, AkzoNobel serves customers in over 150 countries. The company focuses on sustainable solutions to protect and enhance everyday surfaces, aiming to create a better tomorrow.

Job Purpose

• Create optimal short-term (13 weeks) and long-term (24 months) factory production plans that meet market demand while considering factory capacity and constraints.
• Understand and balance trade-offs between customer service levels, inventory management, and production costs.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of batch sizes, production routes, and Capacity Rough Cut Planning (RCCP) at the manufacturing plant to flex production capacity as needed.
• Manage exceptions and ensure availability of SEFI/FINI materials within master production plans according to MRP rules and supplier contracts.
• Maintain accurate master data and transactional records with proper housekeeping.
• Coordinate closely with demand planning, manufacturing scheduling, logistics, and customer care teams; lead MDI and gatekeeping meetings; and report KPIs to track performance.
• Support projects and process improvements to enhance planning efficiency and control slow-moving or obsolete inventory.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the Master Production Schedule (MPS) and Materials Resource Planning (MRP) processes, resolving exceptions per Integrated Business Planning (IBP) guidelines.
• Oversee master production plans at plant and cell levels aligned with capacity agreements for daily, weekly, and three-month horizons.
• Release production orders in coordination with site agreements; regularly review schedule adherence to drive improvements.
• Handle demand exceptions with Production and Supply Planning Managers and assist site schedulers with analysis to improve visibility.
• Collaborate with demand planners to incorporate customer needs into production plans.
• Lead gatekeeping meetings with cross-functional departments, providing relevant KPIs to monitor performance.
• Balance on-time-in-full (OTIF) service levels with inventory targets such as order week coverage (OWC), considering cost implications.
• Control and reduce slow-moving and obsolete stock by ensuring timely rework and scrapping at site or primary distribution centers.
• Provide inputs for inventory strategies, including safety stock settings for existing, new, and phase-out products.
• Ensure accuracy and maintenance of master and transactional data.
• Drive continuous improvements in planning activities to boost efficiency and performance.

Experience Requirements

• A minimum of three years' experience in supply planning within FMCG, paint/coating industries, or retail sectors.
• Practical experience using SAP and Business Intelligence (BI) tools for supply planning.

Educational Qualification

• University degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Business Administration, Economics, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or related fields.

Equal Employment Opportunity

AkzoNobel is dedicated to fostering an inclusive, respectful workplace where diversity is valued. All qualified candidates will be considered for employment without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, or disability.