Production Planning Manager

Production Planning Manager\\nLocation: Near Cambridge\\nSalary: Circa £40,000 – £45,000 + Benefits\\n\\nWe are a market-leading engineering company based near Cambridge, and we are seeking an experienced Production Planning Manager to join our dynamic team. This is a fantastic opportunity for a driven individual to take ownership of key planning processes, manage production schedules, and lead continuous improvement initiatives within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.\\n\\nKey Responsibilities:\\n\\n * Develop and implement standard operating procedures for key processes across the Planning, Stores, and Packing and Shipping functions, ensuring all teams across both shifts are trained to follow these standards.\\n\\n * Collaborate closely with the Inventory Controller to design and implement effective milkrounds, ensuring a continuous flow of materials from Stores through to Production, Inspection, and Shipping.\\n\\n * Regularly audit the standard work in the Planning, Stores, and Packing areas, identifying any deviations and using these audits as coaching opportunities to reinforce process adherence and improve team performance.\\n\\n * Mentor and develop the teams, encouraging the use of problem-solving techniques, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies such as PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) and Lean principles.\\n\\n * Manage the production scheduling support for the Planning team, ensuring adequate coverage for all production shifts, and create fair and balanced team rotas to distribute workloads efficiently.\\n\\n * Ensure that all Planners are proficient in capacity planning, enabling effective work scheduling across all Motion Control production teams.\\n\\n * Identify and implement opportunities for process improvements that enhance efficiency and reduce waste across the production planning and shipping functions.\\n\\nEssential Skills and Experience:\\n\\n * Proven experience in a production planning or scheduling role within a manufacturing environment.\\n\\n * Strong knowledge of production planning processes, inventory control, and supply chain management.\\n\\n * Experience in developing and implementing standard work procedures and conducting training across multiple shifts.\\n\\n * Excellent leadership and team development skills, with a track record of coaching and mentoring teams to improve performance and adherence to best practices.\\n\\n * Proficiency in capacity planning and scheduling techniques, with the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.\\n\\n * Strong problem-solving skills, with experience in root cause analysis and driving continuous improvement initiatives using lean or similar methodologies.\\n\\n * Good organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.\\n\\n * A proactive and hands-on approach to process improvement and team management.\\n\\nWhy Join Us?\\n\\n * Competitive salary of circa £40,000 – £45,000, plus a comprehensive benefits package.\\n\\n * The chance to work for a market-leading engineering company with a reputation for innovation and high-quality manufacturing.\\n\\n * A collaborative and supportive work environment where your contributions will directly impact the success of the business.\\n\\n * Opportunities for career progression and personal development within a growing company.\\n\\nIf you are a proactive and experienced Production Planning professional with a passion for driving efficiency and process improvements, we would love to hear from you. Join our team and take the next step in your career with a company that values excellence and continuous development