We are seeking an experienced and meticulous Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling (PP/DS) Specialist to join our small to medium co-packing operations in China. As we transition to insource this operation, we need an individual who can take ownership of our production planning and scheduling processes, ensuring efficient operations and successful execution of customer orders. The PP/DS Specialist will play a crucial role in optimizing our production activities, minimizing costs, and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality products.

Responsibilities:
1. Production Planning:
61 Develop and implement a robust production planning strategy based on supply planning and available resources.
61 Collaborate with customer service, supply planning manager to gather supply plan requirement and create production plans accordingly.
61 Ensure optimal utilization of resources, including labor, materials, and equipment, to meet production targets.
2. Detailed Scheduling:
61 Create detailed production schedules using the PP/DS module in SAP, including schedules for semi-finished goods pre-processing.
61 Consider factors such as material availability, machine capacity, production constraints, and customer delivery deadlines.
61 Optimize production sequences, minimize setup times, and balance workload to maximize operational efficiency.
3. Inventory Management:
61 Collaborate with supply planning, procurement, and logistics teams to ensure timely availability of semi-finished products, packaging materials and components.
61 Assist in implementing inventory control measures and contribute to periodic inventory analysis.
4. Performance Monitoring and Analysis:
61 Track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to production planning and scheduling, such as on-time delivery, case-fill rate, production cycle time, and resource utilization.
61 Analyze production data to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for process optimization.
61 Prepare regular reports and provide insights to management, suggesting improvements to enhance productivity and cost-effectiveness.
5. Cross-functional Collaboration:
61 Liaise with internal stakeholders, including operations, customer service, supply planner, quality control, and logistics, to ensure smooth execution of production plans.
61 Coordinate with suppliers and production to align production activities and manage external dependencies, meeting planned objectives.
61 Foster effective communication and collaboration among teams to address issues and achieve shared goals.
Qualifications and Skills:
61 Bachelor's degree in Logistics Management, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
61 Proven experience in production planning, detailed scheduling, and inventory management, preferably within an FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) co-packing or manufacturing environment, with short shelf life or perishable products.
61 Strong applied knowledge of production planning principles, capacity planning, material requirements planning, and lean manufacturing concepts.
61 Familiarity with SAP and experienced with PPDS implementation, Office 365, advanced knowledge of MS Excel.
61 Excellent analytical/numerical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
61 Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities to address production-related challenges.
61 Effective communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams and external partners, ideally in English.
61 Detail-oriented mindset with the ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize effectively.