Production jobs in South Africa

The Production Scheduling Manager, Transformers (Products and Services) position is required to improve the business unit's operational direction and control. The role will report directly to the Business Operations Director, Transformers (Products and Services).

Based on the strategic business goals and objectives, the Operations Manager will be responsible for setting and managing the Transformer production deliverables on a daily level, maintaining and monitoring key performance indicators, and implementing and driving operational process improvements for the Transformers business.

As the subject matter expert for scheduling and planning the business unit's production deliverables, the Production Scheduling Manager is pivotal in ensuring the successful scheduling/planning of all manufacturing deliverables, utilising information from all business functions.

The post holder is also responsible for defining, implementing, and maintaining an integrated operational scheduling process that provides the necessary functional collaboration, and balances the operational inputs and outputs to maintain production against schedule and ultimately increase profitability.

In close collaboration with the Project Management team, the post-holder will develop, maintain, and communicate production schedules, identify critical path activities, and proactively manage risks and opportunities to ensure the project is delivered on time, in full, and within budget. They will also support others in planning-related roles or activities.

In addition, the Production Scheduling Manager will ensure that the production plan adheres to the master schedule leading to efficient project execution.

In conjunction with the respective teams, the Production Scheduling Manager will lead the following key activities:

1. Capacity, production and resource planning.
2. Performance tracking.
3. Revenue forecasting.

• Accountability for generating and maintaining the production schedule in line with best practices.
• Lead on capacity, production and resource planning, performance tracking.
• Support with revenue forecasting.
• Collaborate with the Lead Planner and project teams to help develop and maintain end-to-end project plans through engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, production, installation and commissioning.
• Ensure the production schedules align with the company objectives, production plans and client requirements.
• In conjunction with the project management team, manage and prioritise the existing order book.
• Work closely with the production management team, project managers and functional heads to allocate resources efficiently, including labour, materials, and equipment.
• Tactical production planning and output tracking.
• Generate and maintain the master production schedule.
• Work-order management.
• Identify & report potential risks and opportunities related to project schedules.
• Utilise the project plans to support the business in creating revenue and cashflow forecasts.
• Short to mid-term sales and operations planning (S&OP).
• Monitor resource utilisation and recommend adjustments to optimise production performance/output.
• Develop and maintain production schedules, identifying critical paths, resource pinch points and potential bottlenecks.
• Regularly update production timelines and communicate any deviations to stakeholders.
• Operational interface for engineering, supply chain, production, and project management teams.
• Foster effective communication between project teams, subcontractors, and stakeholders.
• Support the Project Managers in developing mitigation and contingency plans to address schedule-related issues.
• Prepare and present regular progress reports to senior management, highlighting key achievements, challenges, and proposed solutions.
• In conjunction with the production engineer team, identify and implement production optimisation solutions.
• Implement lessons learned from previous projects to enhance future planning.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements in project planning and scheduling.
• Mentor other planning & scheduling functions as required to support the needs of the business.

Qualifications

Skills

• Proficiency in project management software, such as Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, or equivalent.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team and mentor junior staff.

Experience

• In-depth transformer manufacturing knowledge.
• Good understanding of Engineering, Procurement and Manufacturing projects.
• Proven experience as a project planner with expertise in cost-based project planning and earned value management.
• Strong competence within Microsoft Project.
• Strong competence within Primavera P6 (Desirable).
• Knowledge of cost control principles, including budgeting and financial analysis (Desirable).

Attributes

• Customer-focused approach.
• Self-sufficient and resourceful.
• Ability to challenge others to drive improvements.
• Ability to interpret and communicate data accurately and effectively.

BRUSH Transformers provide agile and adaptive engineering solutions and products, including consultancy services, design, and project management as well as award-winning product technology, to a wide range of projects.

A chosen partner for national and regional power generation and distribution network operators, through innovation and a commitment to delivering solutions that address grid-resilience and drive system change, we support the global drive to net-zero, helping create a future-proof Infrastructure.

Location: Nottingham Road, Loughborough, United Kingdom