Production Planner

About the role

The Production Planner ensures daily production volumes are recorded, planned and executed to meet client and food service requirements, guaranteeing 100% product availability on time. The role covers medium‑to‑long‑term planning across multiple manufacturing sites and product categories.

Key responsibilities

• Communicate daily raw material and packaging needs to stores and buyers based on forward orders.
• Optimize use of intermediate raw materials in WIP and update line plans.
• Download and analyse Woolworths orders, monitoring fluctuations.
• Issue daily production plans to factories well in advance and send production reports promptly.
• Monitor execution of the daily plan, highlight potential yield losses and investigate yield information against standards.
• Participate in daily production meetings with foremen to discuss plans.
• Analyse weekly productivity reports to ensure positive labour recovery.
• Review forecasted demand, stock cover, capacity utilisation and customer service levels.
• Maintain model stock parameters per SKU within working‑capital and service‑level frameworks.
• Support stock controllers and buyers with SYSPRO MRP output, interpretation and master‑data maintenance.

Required profile

• Matric/Grade 12 qualification.
• At least 5 years of FMCG production planning experience in a multi‑process manufacturing environment.
• Strong administrative abilities, attention to detail and problem‑solving orientation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Required skills

• Computer literacy.
• Knowledge of GMP, HACCP and Woolworths Code of Practice.
• Familiarity with SYSPRO MRP system.