Planning and Inventory Manager (FMCG Manufacturing) Midrand
Searchrsa.com · Midrand, Gauteng
Overview
A hands on Planning and Inventory Manager role in Midrand at an FMCG manufacturer. You will run production planning, inventory and warehouse coordination using SAP, owning the numbers that keep customer orders on time and stock efficient. If you have five years in manufacturing planning and want a role where continuous improvement is part of the daily job, this is a strong next step.
About the role
This is a permanent, full time opportunity for someone who enjoys connecting the dots between demand, production, stock and cost. You will join a manufacturing environment where planning is central to keeping customers happy and the factory running efficiently.
As the Planning and Inventory Manager you will work across production, supply chain, procurement, finance, quality and warehouse teams. The role relies heavily on SAP and other planning tools, so you should be comfortable turning data into a workable plan and communicating it clearly.
- Production planning: Build short and long term plans in SAP, track adherence, and flag capacity constraints before they bite.
- Inventory management: Keep stock levels healthy, manage slow moving and obsolete stock, and maintain accurate inventory records.
- Reporting: Prepare KPI updates on service levels, losses, efficiency and inventory performance for management.
- Continuous improvement: Lead improvements across planning, buying and warehouse processes, and coach team members along the way.
- Buying and warehouse: Coordinate raw material and packaging sourcing and support warehouse workflows so materials are available when production needs them.
You will need to be organised, confident with numbers and used to working with customers and suppliers. The role also involves exposure to audit requirements and international audit standards, so accuracy and internal controls matter.
Application note: No specific application instructions were provided in the listing. Please prepare your updated CV and relevant qualification documents when applying through the source platform.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Inventory Management, Operations Management or a related field
- Minimum 5 years in production or manufacturing, planning, inventory and supply chain roles, working with customers
- Sound understanding of the FMCG company environment
- FMCG or manufacturing experience
- Exposure to international audit requirements
- Demonstrated leadership abilities, solid management skills and success in leading continuous improvement with proven results
- Ability to use market forecasts and competitive analysis to anticipate necessary production changes
- Critical thinking skills to build action plans and assess their effectiveness
- Organisational skills to manage multiple moving pieces, people and orders
- Problem solving skills to anticipate problems before they happen
- Experience ordering new supplies to avoid excessive surplus or inefficiencies
- Ability to analyse suppliers to ensure cost effective deals
- Knowledge of production planning and scheduling
- Experience evaluating raw materials and equipment for production readiness
- Ability to handle production disruptions and productivity problems
- Cost monitoring skills to keep production within budget
Responsibilities
- Develop, communicate and maintain short and long term production plans in SAP that match customer demand with production capacity and inventory targets
- Track production plan adherence at SKU level and report performance in production meetings
- Maintain a rolling 52 week view of plant workload and resolve capacity constraints with plant leaders
- Plan and manage inventory levels to reduce excess, slow moving and obsolete stock while meeting business needs
- Work with Supply Chain and Customer Services to plan orders and support on time delivery
- Forecast inventory requirements, contribute to the annual inventory budget and review variances
- Prepare KPI reports on service levels, production plan adherence, losses, efficiency and inventory performance
- Review finished goods slow moving and obsolete stock weekly and report monthly to management
- Coordinate new product introductions and discontinuations to reduce write off risk
- Lead continuous improvement across production planning, inventory, purchasing and warehouse processes
- Coach and develop team members in planning, inventory management and capacity planning
- Coordinate sourcing and purchasing of raw materials, packaging and components in line with production requirements
- Oversee warehouse operations, workflows, staffing, storage space and equipment use
Job details
- Organisation
- Searchrsa.com
- Location
- Midrand, Gauteng
- Job type
- Full time
- Experience level
- Mid (5+ years)
- Education
- Bachelor
- Category
- Manufacturing & Production
- Application Method
- Apply manually
Success Guide
This role sits right in the middle of the factory’s moving parts, so when you apply, show that you understand how planning decisions affect stock, cost and customer service. Use your CV to highlight the products or industries you have planned for, the systems you have used, and times you improved a process or reduced waste. If you have worked with SAP, say so clearly and mention which planning modules you know.
At interview you can expect questions about capacity planning, how you handle Stock Keeping Unit level targets, and how you deal with suppliers who deliver late. Have a real example ready of a slow moving stock problem you solved. It also helps to show you are comfortable talking to production teams and senior managers in the same day. Midrand is a busy manufacturing area, so be ready to discuss how you would manage a 52 week production view and keep the plan realistic.
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