Head of Production Planning & Material Control

About the role

The Head of Production Planning & Material Control will lead the PPMC function, ensuring seamless integration of demand forecasting, capacity planning, material management and plant logistics. This senior position drives operational efficiency, inventory optimisation and supports new product introductions within an automotive manufacturing environment.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, aligning demand, capacity, procurement and inventory plans.
• Develop and execute the Master Production Schedule (MPS) and detailed production plans (daily to annual).
• Manage material planning and control, guaranteeing timely availability of CKD kits, local parts and consumables.
• Optimise inventory levels, accuracy and reduce ageing, slow‑moving and obsolete stock.
• Oversee plant logistics, warehouse‑to‑line operations, sequencing, kitting and line feeding using Lean principles.
• Conduct capacity planning, forecast future needs and eliminate bottlenecks.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Procurement, Engineering, Quality, Finance, Sales, Product Development and After‑Sales teams.
• Maintain SAP/ERP planning parameters, BOMs, routings and drive automation and digital reporting.
• Champion continuous‑improvement initiatives such as Lean, JIT, Kanban, FIFO, Milk Run and Kaizen.
• Provide governance, set KPIs, manage budgets and develop team capabilities while ensuring compliance with OEM, quality and HSE standards.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Supply Chain Management.
• 12–15 years of experience in Production Planning and Material Control within the automotive industry.
• Strong knowledge of automotive manufacturing processes, CKD/SKD operations, localisation, inventory management and plant logistics.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams and drive strategic initiatives.

Required skills

• SAP ERP (PP/MM) or equivalent ERP systems.
• Advanced MRP, Master Production Scheduling (MPS) and demand‑planning expertise.
• Lean Manufacturing, Just‑in‑Time (JIT), Kanban, FIFO, Milk Run and Kaizen methodologies.