Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Production Control & Materials Assistant Manager to support production planning, material management, inventory control, and operational coordination within a new manufacturing facility preparing to launch operations.
This position will play a key leadership role in establishing efficient production control processes, ensuring material availability, maintaining inventory accuracy, and supporting on-time customer deliveries. The Assistant Manager will work closely with production, purchasing, warehouse, and operations teams to align manufacturing schedules with customer demand and operational capacity.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on manufacturing professional with strong production planning, materials management, and ERP/MRP experience who thrives in a fast-paced, start-up environment.
Key Responsibilities
Production Planning & Scheduling
- Oversee the development and execution of daily and weekly production schedules based on customer demand, material availability, and manufacturing capacity.
- Monitor production performance against established schedules and coordinate adjustments to minimize disruptions.
- Collaborate with production leadership to establish priorities, resolve scheduling conflicts, and maintain operational efficiency.
- Support the development and implementation of production planning procedures and performance metrics.
Materials Management & Inventory Control
- Coordinate material planning and availability to support uninterrupted manufacturing operations.
- Partner with purchasing, warehouse, and production teams to identify and resolve material shortages, supplier delays, and inventory discrepancies.
- Oversee work-in-process (WIP), raw material, and finished goods inventory accuracy.
- Support inventory optimization initiatives to reduce excess stock, minimize waste, and improve material flow.
- Establish and maintain effective inventory tracking and control procedures.
ERP/MRP Systems & Reporting
- Oversee accurate production orders, material transactions, inventory movements, and production confirmations within ERP/MRP systems.
- Utilize SAP, MES, or comparable manufacturing systems to monitor production schedules, material requirements, and inventory levels.
- Analyze production and inventory data to identify discrepancies, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
- Develop and maintain production reports, inventory metrics, and operational performance indicators.
Operational Leadership & Start-Up Support
- Assist the Production Control & Materials Manager with daily departmental operations and coordination across first and second shifts.
- Support the development of standard operating procedures, workflows, and inventory management processes during facility start-up.
- Provide direction and support to production control and materials personnel, ensuring accountability and adherence to established procedures.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve operational challenges and improve production efficiency.
- Promote a culture of safety, quality, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
Customer Delivery & Performance
- Monitor customer delivery requirements and coordinate production and material readiness to support on-time shipments.
- Identify potential production delays or delivery risks and implement corrective actions in coordination with management.
- Track key performance indicators related to schedule attainment, inventory accuracy, material availability, and delivery performance.
- Recommend process improvements to enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field preferred; equivalent manufacturing experience will be considered.
- 5+ years of experience in production control, material planning, inventory management, or manufacturing operations preferred.
- Previous supervisory, team leadership, or assistant management experience in a manufacturing environment.
- Strong understanding of production scheduling, material requirements planning (MRP), inventory control, and manufacturing workflows.
- Hands-on experience with ERP/MRP systems; SAP and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) experience preferred.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, production reporting, and data analysis.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple operational priorities and resolve production or material-related challenges.
- Strong leadership, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Experience supporting manufacturing start-ups, new production launches, or process implementation is highly desirable.
- Ability to work collaboratively across departments and support both first and second shift operations as needed.
Work Environment & Schedule
- Manufacturing facility in the start-up phase, operating first and second shifts.
- Onsite position requiring regular interaction with production, warehouse, materials, and management teams.
- Flexibility to support operational needs across both shifts, particularly during facility start-up and production ramp-up.
- Combination of office-based planning responsibilities and hands-on manufacturing floor involvement.