Rohan have an exciting new opportunity for a Production Planner at our Head Office in Milton Keynes.
As Production Planner for our technical clothing brand, you will play a key role in ensuring production timelines are met, on time and in full, maintaining and building relationships with suppliers and mills to ensure strong working relationships and cooperation. You will be responsible for managing production schedules, and production planning, guaranteeing seamless operations across the supply chain. You will work closely with goods-in on bookings with Rohan suppliers and third party party suppliers. This role requires exceptional organisational skills, strong supplier relationship management, and a deep understanding of technical apparel production processes.
The Role
Production Planning
- Primary contact for queries relating to purchase orders, production planning and shipments.
- Negotiate and propose a plan for all production schedules and delivery dates with fabric mills and vendors
- Sign-off order confirmations, including cancellations, price changes and amendments to orders and communicate changes
- Review production trackers shared by vendors and issues that may arise, highlighting potential delays and propose remedial actions with vendors or freight forwarders.
- Manage production meeting with wider product team highlighting potential delay or risk to key stakeholders
- Manage and confirm decisions on delivery shortages/ over-makes, credits or discounts where applicable.
- With input and sign-off from Planning & Sourcing Manager, place all bulk fabric orders for the season.
- Negotiate bulk production surcharges and discounts with suppliers and mills and updating key stakeholders.
- Manage process, plan, and timings for producing and receiving marketing samples for season.
Supplier Relationship
- Act as liaison between Rohan and Suppliers ensuring all related production, shipment and delivery issues are understood and executable.
- Create mutually beneficial supplier relationships to effectively drive improvement in production management and delivery.
- Produce end-of-season analysis on our supply base and delivery performance, and prepare reports for vendor review meetings and to share with suppliers.
- Working closely with suppliers and internal teams, to review and propose improvements in supply chain efficiencies, including planning of production, shipping options and delivery planning.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with domestic and international suppliers to ensure high-quality standards.
- Monitor supplier performance through regular communication, ensuring adherence to agreed-upon standards, timelines, and contracts.
- Coordinate with suppliers on the procurement of materials ensuring delivery according to production timelines.
Critical Path
- Support the Planning and Sourcing Manager to communicate critical path dates to the production team and suppliers so bulk production is delivered according to the seasonal calendar.
- Manage the delivery schedule in accordance with the production planning time line and communicate any issues or delays to key stakeholders across the business.
- Oversee tracking and management of goods from supplier to warehouse, analysing and reporting on each critical milestone
- Work with the Product Team to ensure bulk production is on track and inform any change on delivery dates to relevant internal departments.
- Regularly review internal and supplier processes and implement agreed improvements to improve lead-times and deliveries.
- Work closely with internal teams, including marketing, retail, technical, and logistics, to align production schedules with brand needs and activities.
- Communicate production delays or issues to relevant stakeholders promptly.
Shipping & Logistics
- Continually review shipments each season to ensure all goods are sent via the most cost-effective method possible, within our delivery timeframe and identify areas for saving time or costs.
- Review monthly costs submitted by our nominated freight forwarders and identify and propose potential savings. Counter cost where necessary.
- Continually review and sign-off freight lead-times and adjustments where needed.
- Review and authorise freight invoices.
- Oversee shipping and delivery schedules working with Goods-in on bookings ahead of time to avoid bottlenecks at peak times
Analysis & Reporting
- Generate and provide regular production status reports to management and other stakeholders.
- Ensure all production documentation is organised, accessible, and updated in real time
- Maintain accurate records of production schedules, order confirmations, and supplier agreements
Key Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree
- Proven experience in a manufacturing or supply chain environment, with specific experience in supplier management and planning activities, preferably with apparel / clothing experience.
- Strong analytical skills
- Proficiency in MS Office applications - Excel essential.
- Experience of using spreadsheets for data analysis and reporting.
- Functional knowledge of ERP and production management software
- Fluency in English is essential.
- Excellent verbal/written communication
- Excellent time management skills and an open minded approach to work, combined with a strong problem solving
- Experience working with international suppliers
What's in it for you?
- Clothing allowance
- 50% discount on our own clothing
- Pension scheme
- Life cover based on salary
- E-learning modules & training
- Group employee benefits
- Employee Assistance Scheme