Job Overview

The Production Planning Engineer (or Production Planning Supervisor) is a member of the company’s managerial staff, who is a highly organized and results-driven leader that manages the overall operations of their designated team, unit or subdivision within the Planning Department.

The position incumbent supervises the performance of the team members reporting directly to them and oversees end-to-end supply chain operations of their assigned brands/accounts from customer order management & production planning/forecasting to actual product & customer service delivery, while ensuring that both internal & external cross-functional communication are all carried out with the highest standards of accuracy & efficiency.

The Production Planning Engineer (or Supervisor) should thrive in a fast-paced environment, proactively prevent issues or resolve them as they arise, and serve as a key liaison between our internal teams and external partners – factories and brand customers.

This position requires extensive experience in the fashion apparel industry in the production or planning role with demonstrated strong leadership, analytical thinking, and remarkable communication skills to manage vendor relationships, ensure timely deliveries, drive operational excellence, and generate exceptional customer satisfaction.

Responsibilities

Customer Relationship Management:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for customers regarding seasonal allocation strategies, production updates, initiatives or issues on factory loading, capacity planning, and purchase order (PO) management.
• Lead regular calls with customers, factories and liaison offices to prioritize current season production, and align or update as often as needed.
• Negotiate best possible material and production lead times with the customer while maintaining quality standards.

Forecast & Capacity Management:

• Own, monitor and manage customer forecasts and factory allocations.
• Analyze vendor capacity and capabilities, provide insights and escalate concerns to leadership as needed.

Order Management:

• Oversee end-to-end order processing and agreed schedules and key milestones are met to achieve On-Time Delivery (OTD) performance.
• Follow-through with the Purchasing & Logistics Teams to ensure all timelines are adhered to.
• Review escalated production concerns and coordinate with factories or liaison offices to implement solutions or escalate further as needed.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Internal Stakeholder Coordination:

• Facilitate and lead cross-functional collaboration to drive decision-making, resolve roadblocks, and ensure timely issue resolution.
• Partner with internal teams (e.g., M88 Global Offices, Product Development, and QC Teams) to align on buy calendars, address TNA (time & action) challenges, and resolve production or product-related issues.
• Take ownership of high-level issues, providing timely updates to senior management.

Compliance Standards & Systems Management:

• Ensure adherence to vendor manuals, packaging guidelines, logistics protocols, testing requirements, and quality standards (PPM, SMS, TOP).
• Support the implementation and maintenance of tools, reports, and systems (e.g., PLM, SAP/NextGen) both internally and within customer portals.

Process Optimization & Production Cost Control:

• Identify bottlenecks and implement solutions to improve production workflow.
• Use data analytics to forecast demand and optimize production schedules.
• Evaluate production processes for cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality.

Reporting & Documentation:

• Prepare the WIP (work in progress) report to monitor material and production updates
• Document all production planning processes, schedule changes, and other relevant systems.
• Provide timely updates to senior management on production status and potential risk factors.

Process Analysis & Continuous Improvement:

• Support company initiatives in Process Analysis & Continuous Improvement for its various departments.
• Conduct time-motion studies, workflow analysis, and root cause investigations to identify inefficiencies.
• Conduct reviews of current processes to find ways to reduce lead-time, reduce or eliminate mistakes, and introduce more efficient workflows.
• Develop and implement process improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or other methodologies.
• Track key performance indicators (KPIs) and generate reports to support data-driven decision-making.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to standardize best practices and ensure compliance with quality standards.

Self-Development:

• Identify and act in developing the required knowledge, skills and attitude (KSA) necessary in the performance of this job as well as to further career development.
• Regularly seek feedback from immediate supervisor and colleagues to improve performance and skills.
• Manage your own time to accommodate self-development activities.

Additional Duties:

• Comply with the requirements and tasks for all employees in relation to Occupational Health and Safety, Security, and Environmental Policies.
• Participate in employee engagement activities & process improvement initiatives.
• Perform other related tasks and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related.

Experience:

• 5 years in production planning, preferably in fashion, garments, apparel, or accessories industry.
• 2 years in a supervisory or managerial role.
• Familiarity with production and planning management software.
• Demonstrated experience in working with supply chain operations and vendor management.
• High-level involvement in process analysis and continuous improvement initiatives on an organizational capacity and reach.

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies:

• Overall knowledge and understanding of end-to-end supply chain management.
• Theoretical knowledge, and more importantly the practical application, of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with keen attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational skills, capable of managing multiple projects and deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) or Google Workspace.
• Familiarity with Artificial Intelligence (AI) I tools and Power BI, preferred.
• ERP Experience (NextGen/ EDI preferred)
• Exceptional communication and negotiation abilities to work effectively with cross-functional teams and external partners
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment, adapting to last-minute changes or challenges.

Other Requirements:

• Awareness of fashion trends and seasonal cycles is a plus.
• Knowledge of quality control standards and relevant industry regulations.
• Willingness to travel occasionally for vendor visits, if and when needed.