Production Planning Manager
Gooch & Housego Pal AltoAbout Us
G&H is a world leader in optical designing, testing, and manufacturing. As experts in the technology of light, we collaborate with customers to provide optical systems, assemblies, and components for demanding applications.
Headquartered in Ilminster, Somerset, UK, with primary operations in the USA and Europe, G&H is recognized for our comprehensive range of acousto-optic, electro-optic
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, crystal-optic, fiber optic, and precision optic products. We are the preferred source for OEMs in the life sciences, industrial, and aerospace and defense industries, with a legacy of quality and excellence spanning over seventy-five years.
We offer exciting and rewarding opportunities for motivated individuals to join our team of skilled colleagues who aspire to grow and succeed together.
Our business locations across the United States and the UK employ professionals in diverse functions, including engineering, manufacturing, product management, supply chain, customer service, quality assurance, continuous improvement, compliance, and finance.
The Role
We are looking for a Production Planning Manager to take charge of the production planning function and collaborate closely with Operations to create and maintain a realistic and executable production plan that meets customer delivery needs, enhances throughput, and stabilizes daily operations in a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing setting.
This position is vital for converting demand into actionable production schedules, aligning manufacturing capacity with material availability, and ensuring clear visibility of production priorities on the shop floor. You will provide daily leadership for the production planning team while fostering planning discipline, implementing process improvements, and encouraging cross-functional collaboration.
The ideal candidate is proactive, detail-oriented, and thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where planning is essential to operational success.
Key Responsibilities
• Production Planning & Scheduling:
• Lead the development, execution, and maintenance of production schedules that ensure timely customer deliveries and align with manufacturing priorities.
• Create and sustain the Master Production Schedule (MPS) while ensuring demand, manufacturing capacity, and material availability are harmonized.
• Monitor and adjust schedule performance to meet changing customer requirements or address operational constraints.
• Capacity & Material Planning:
• Conduct rough-cut capacity planning and material requirements planning to facilitate efficient manufacturing execution.
• Identify capacity constraints and collaborate with Operations to develop practical solutions.
• Maintain planning parameters to support inventory optimization and minimize production disruptions.
• Team Leadership:
• Provide daily oversight, coaching, and development for the production planning team.
• Set priorities, supervise workloads, and advocate planning best practices throughout the department.
• Encourage collaboration and accountability within the planning function.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
• Work closely with Operations, Procurement, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Customer Service, and Logistics to resolve planning challenges and align priorities.
• Lead regular planning meetings to communicate schedules, risks, and recovery plans.
• Contribute to Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) initiatives by providing insights on production planning.
• Performance & Continuous Improvement:
• Track key planning metrics such as schedule adherence, on-time delivery, throughput, work-in-process, and inventory performance.
• Identify opportunities for enhancing planning accuracy, scheduling efficiency, and overall manufacturing performance.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives and promote standardized planning processes.
• Issue Resolution:
• Resolve production disruptions, material shortages, and shifting customer priorities by adjusting plans and coordina