Production Planning Trainee – Johannesburg

About the role

The Production Planning Trainee will join the planning team at a manufacturing site in Johannesburg, supporting daily scheduling and data management. This entry‑level role offers hands‑on experience with production workflows, Excel reporting, and cross‑functional coordination.

Key responsibilities

• Assist with daily, weekly and monthly production planning activities.
• Capture and maintain production data accurately in Microsoft Excel.
• Prepare daily production reports, planning schedules and KPI dashboards.
• Update trackers, monitor progress against schedules and flag deviations.
• Track raw‑material availability and liaise with warehouse, procurement and logistics.
• Analyse production data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Generate graphs, pivot tables and dashboards for management reporting.
• Support continuous‑improvement initiatives within the planning department.
• Perform general administrative duties related to production planning.

Required profile

• Matric (Grade 12) minimum; a diploma or degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Industrial Engineering, Logistics or related field is advantageous.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
• Strong numerical and analytical ability with high attention to detail.
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines and collaborate across departments.

Required skills

• Microsoft Excel – formulas, functions, pivot tables, charts, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, conditional formatting.
• Data analysis and reporting.

What we offer

• Practical experience in a real manufacturing environment.
• Development of advanced Excel and analytical skills.
• Opportunity to contribute to continuous‑improvement projects.