Machining and Production Planning Manager

Position Summary

The Machining & Production Planning Manager is responsible for leading all machine shop operations while owning the master production schedule and production planning process. This role ensures safe, efficient, and cost‑effective machining operations while aligning capacity, labor, materials, and schedules to customer demand and business priorities. The position serves as the primary link between production execution and planning, with accountability for throughput, on‑time delivery, labor utilization, and schedule integrity.

Key Responsibilities

Machining Operations Management

• Provide direct leadership for the machine shop, including CNC and manual machining operations.


• Manage daily production execution to ensure safety, quality, productivity, and delivery targets are met.


• Establish and enforce standard work, operating procedures, and best practices.


• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, scrap reduction, throughput, and uptime.


• Partner with Project Management, Engineering, Supply Chain and Maintenance to resolve tooling, programming, equipment, material and process issues.


• Support capital planning, equipment utilization analysis, and layout optimization.


• Ensure compliance with all safety, environmental, and company policies.

Production Planning & Master Scheduling

• Own and maintain the Master Production Schedule (MPS) for production operations.


• Balance demand, capacity, labor, and materials to create executable schedules.


• Set production priorities and sequence work across work centers to meet on‑time delivery commitments.


• Coordinate schedule changes with Project Management and Procurement.


• Drive schedule adherence and continuously improve schedule accuracy and stability.


• Utilize ERP/MRP systems to manage planning data, routings, lead times, and work center capacities and resource constraints.


• Proactively identify and resolve schedule conflicts, bottlenecks, and resource constraints


• Support workforce planning to ensure the shop is properly staffed to meet production goals

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop leads, and direct and indirect production staff.


• Establish clear performance expectations and hold teams accountable to results.


• Support hiring, training, cross‑training, and succession planning.


• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.

Metrics, Reporting & Accountability

• Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs), including:




• On‑time delivery


• Schedule adherence


• Labor efficiency


• Throughput and capacity utilization


• Scrap and rework




• Use data and root‑cause analysis to drive corrective actions and improvements.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum 5–8 years of experience in machining or manufacturing operations.


• Prior experience managing production planning, scheduling, or MPS ownership.


• Strong understanding of machining processes, shop flow, and production constraints.


• Experience leading teams in a manufacturing environment.


• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and production reporting tools.


• Strong organizational, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field.


• Experience in a mixed‑product or make‑to‑order manufacturing environment.


• Background in continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen).

Key Competencies

• Production planning & capacity management


• Machining operations leadership


• Cross‑functional communication


• Data‑driven decision making


• Continuous improvement mindset


• Leadership and team development

Working Conditions

• Manufacturing shop floor environment with extended periods of standing or walking.


• Occasional off‑shift support may be required to support operations.