Production Planner (Chemical Experience) at Syngenta

Job Description
Role purpose and key responsibilities

• Responsible for detailed 3-weeks production scheduling and managing 3-Months capacity view of the production plan for both firmed and non-firmed demands forecast and requirements.
• Plan production assets to ensure cost efficiency and operate cost effectively.
• Closely monitor the result of Material Replenishment Planning (MRP) by analysing the system generated material requirement plan report.
• Inventory management of Slow and no mover materials, with the aim of identifying risk to production plan, redeployment or rework opportunities. Escalate any high risk to ensure you meet inventory targets. Assist to set up material safety stock reasonably, work with colleagues to achieve inventory target.
• Ensure the optimization of on-site inventory of components and formulated bulks to minimize working capital.
• Follow up on the Artwork labels change process to ensure correct version is applied, and minimize the materials' write off.
• Using demand requirements to analyse production order fulfilment scheduling (actual vs. plan) and recommend actions for continuous improvement.
• Proactively communicate a possible negative impact on the production plan and revise production plan accordingly.
• Manage materials requirements by ensuring that procurement of materials is done in a timely manner by suppliers within the set KPI parameters and operate against MRPII philosophies & principles.
• Ensure all Planned orders are updated in APO in line with latest production plan & have correct alternative BoM / Routing assigned 
• To maintain the overall FF&P supply plan across a defined asset portfolio (Workcentres, routings and Plants), providing options to meet variances in demand and supply. Implement Tactical Supply Plans where appropriate.
• Co-ordination along the supply chain teams, especially with FF&P Supply Chain Planners, Vendor Schedulers and Manufacturing to manage the production plan and ex-works shipments over a zero to end current season horizon.
• Manage relations with key stakeholders that include Logistics Order Management, warehousing, regulatory and FF&P Supply chain planners both at a regional and global level, Plant and Production teams, FF&P Asset maintenance scheduler, Vendor Schedulers, Demand planners head of supply chain/ IMC Supply Managers/Distribution Planners.
• Process all late or change of delivery date in the SUCAP system and reporting due to production changes or no adherence.
• Demonstrate a Health and safety culture, leading by examples, adherence to rules and participating in site initiative
• Review the correctness of the rolling material forecast to supplier in close collaboration with the Vendor Scheduler.
• Timely communicate with all internal stakeholders any production delays, material constraints and possible customer sales losses in order to reprioritise the plan.
• Fully understand site production line flexibility, production capacity, labour constraints, in collaboration with Production supervisors to work out weekly production plan with 6 weeks rolling every week by effective use our assets and resources.
• Maintain the overall supply/demand balance through a review of the net demand & uncertainty; the creation of balanced production plans over the current season (up to 12mth horizon). Work with FF&P SCP's to ensure appropriate balance between manufacturing responsiveness, cost efficiency and inventory holding determining and implementing need to hold safety stock.
• Work as a key member of the Supply Chain Team to continually improve the responsiveness, efficiency of the Supply Chain within the portfolio. Help develop and then execute Tactical Supply Plans based on Regional Differentiation.
• Work with the AI Production Planner to ensure the supply of AI meets the FF&P plans.
• Manage the Plant/Unit specific aspects (eg, codes, routings) of the range management process for regional SUs (product life-cycle), ensuring both the efficient introduction and removal of products where appropriate.
• Maintain the overall supply/demand balance through a review of the sales forecasts & AI net demands, the creation of balanced production plans and the provision of a monthly inventory projection.

Specific Role Responsibilities

Operations

• Attends Daily Production meeting, monitoring daily progress against current week Production Schedule .Mitigate any reported Production delays &/or reported delays to Inbound Materials from VS that impact current week Production Plan.
• Prepare & Lead Weekly Production Planning meeting for 0-3 week. Analyze Production v Plan KPI, collaborate with Production on reasons for delays & add reason codes to KPI report & share in weekly Production Planning Meeting focusing on risk and making necessary adjustments to ensure demand requirements are met. sequence & prioritise the production schedule to a shift/daily level collaborating with Production ensuring the plan is executable.
• KPI’s responsible for :Past due Receipts (eg PrOrds) & take action ensuring APO/SAP is updated. Projected stock excess and shortages, Production vs actual performance, unconfirmed demand within planning horizons, Conversion & Release of Production Orders for the next week. Ensure all Production Orders & Planned orders are updated in APO/SAP in line with latest production plan. They will esca-late capacity issues for resolution where appropriate.
• Maintain and optimize master data relevant to production and supply planning and highlight material master data challenges to masterdata team, planning COE and Procurement for updating. The FF&P Asset Planner will ensure Plant/Unit specific dynamic & static master/operational data integrity in APO and SAP is accurate at all times.
• Review & maintain a valid Balanced RCP (Material) at all levels for own Portfolio by exception focusing on material constraint &/or bottleneck resources & where there are defects (overloads, shortages, excess etc) requiring intervention or action.

Qualifications

• Balancing Supply Plans
• The Production Planner will work with the FF&P SCP to ensure that demands (phasing & volume) are accurately reflected in the planning system and that the demands represent the true needs of the market place. The planner will work with manufacturing to ensure that demands can be met as required. If the plans cannot be balanced, the Production Planner is responsible for developing, agreeing & executing supply alternatives.
• The Production Planner will ensure the effective introduction of new SUs and bulks. This includes BOM, routings etc. using data provided by Asset Managers (Unit Superintendents). When a product is identified for deletion, the Planner will also make sure that products and components are completely consumed or reworked in timely and cost effective way. Ensuring principles of Product Life Cycle Management are applied.

Tactical Supply Plans

• The FF&P Production Planner will, in conjunction with the FF&P Supply Chain Planner, Manufacturing and Vendor Scheduling, develop and execute Tactical Supply Plans describing how the supply chain will respond to market events and inherent variability. Works with Active ingredients Production Planner to ensure that the operational AI plans in are consistent with the local Tactical Supply Plans. During the season the Asset planner will take the lead in executing the Tactical Supply Plans and associated decision points.

IMC/BU interaction

• The FF&P Production Planner will manage the short term changes in ex-works shipment dates and the impact on the IMC deliveries by working closely with Order Management, Customer Service and IMC planning. SUCAP delay tool will be used where appropriate.

Knowledge & capabilities

Critical knowledge & experience

• Relevant Tertiary Qualification 
• Minimum 5 years experience in scheduling in a chemical manufacturing or manufacturing environment.
• Good knowledge and understanding of supply chain concepts and methodologies including MRP.
• ERP applications experience in SAP R/3,SAP ECC/APO,SAP 4 HANNA
• CPIM or related APICS qualification would be advantageous
• Critical technical, professional and personal capabilities
• Ability to analyse data trends to understand supply chain effectiveness
• Scenario Planning and advanced Problem Solving Ability
• Demonstrated ability to get results in a crisp decisive manner 
• Highly skilled in root cause failure analysis and elimination
• Strong interpersonal, communication and leadership skills
• Good cooperation and coordination skills
• Strong analytical thinking ability
• Ability to work well under stressful conditions
• Action oriented & delivery focused
• Successful candidate must meet minimum physical and medical requirements related to the role