Production Planning Manager

Madison 88 Business Solutions Asia Inc. provides exceptional service when it comes to planning, costing, purchasing, and logistics to its sole customer who is the leader in accessories specializing in knitwear, Madison 88, Ltd with global headquarters in New York.

Position Overview:

The Asia Planning Production Manager will oversee the coordination and execution of planning, purchasing/ shipping activities across the Asia region. This role is critical in ensuring that planning, procurement, and logistics functions are aligned, efficient, and responsive to company goals and needs. The manager will lead teams in planning, purchasing /shipping, driving performance, implementing process improvements, and ensuring on-time delivery of goods in line with regional and global supply chain objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Leadership & Team Management:

• Lead and manage the Planning-Production, Purchasing / Shipping teams, fostering a collaborative, efficient, and performance-driven culture.

• Develop and mentor team members to ensure professional growth and high performance, ensuring the teams meet KPIs and business objectives.

• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, empowering teams to innovate and find solutions that drive operational efficiency and cost savings.

2. Planning & Production:

• Leads the gathering of the brand's forecast and consolidate them for analysis.

• Oversee supplier loading plan, reports to the US office and be able to collaborate when it comes to identifying opportunities and challenges.

• Be able to negotiate capacity with factory based on brand forecasts, sales trends/chase buys, and other factors to maintain an accurate and dynamic planning process.

• Ensure smooth production flow by closely monitoring each brand's WIP reports, ensuring the factory adheres to the planned schedule and quality standards.

• Work with factory managers and planning production teams to identify and resolve any bottlenecks or delays in the production process.

• Provide excellent customer service to brands, offering solutions and suggestions to meet customer needs.

3. Purchasing Strategy & Vendor Management (Work with Purchasing Assistant Manager):

• Manage purchasing strategies and relationships with key trims suppliers, ensuring materials and products are purchased and shipped on time, and with the required quality standards.

• Negotiate payment terms with suppliers, ensuring compliance with corporate policies and ethical standards.

• Monitor supplier performance and address any issues related to delivery delays, quality control, or cost inefficiencies.

4. Shipping & Logistics Management (Work with Shipping Assistant Manager):

• Oversee the shipping function, ensuring that goods are delivered on time to customers.

• Resolve any issues related to shipping delays, customs, or capacity limitations, ensuring smooth execution of the shipping process across all regions.

• Continuously assess and improve shipping processes to enhance efficiency, reduce lead times, and improve customer satisfaction.

• Ensure shipping documents are up to date and submission on time to streamline the billing process and make sure accounting receives the correct documents for billing.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Partner with US production/planning team to align supply chain activities with business and customer requirements.

• Lead weekly and quarterly reviews of planning and purchasing / shipping operations to ensure alignment with business objectives and identify potential gaps or areas for improvement.

• Provide weekly updates to US production/planning team on risks and opportunities related to planning, purchasing, and shipping, as well as monthly KPIs.

6. Risk & Issue Resolution:

• Identify and mitigate risks in the supply chain related to purchasing, planning /shipping, including supplier disruptions, capacity limitations, and any potential issues.

• Act as the escalation point for issues that arise in the planning, purchasing / shipping processes, ensuring timely resolution and maintaining on-time delivery and service standards.

7. Process Improvement & Continuous Improvement:

• Lead the evaluation and improvement of planning, purchasing, and shipping processes to drive operational efficiency and alignment with strategic objectives.

• Implement best practices in demand forecasting, inventory management, supplier collaboration, and shipping logistics.

• Leverage data, technology, and automation to enhance decision-making, forecasting accuracy, and operational effectiveness.

8. Reporting & Analytics:

• Analyze performance data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.

• Ensure timely and accurate reporting (e.g., shipping reports, trim inventory) to senior management.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in supply chain management, planning, purchasing, or logistics, preferably within consumer goods, manufacturing, or apparel sectors.

• At least 3 years of experience in leadership role, managing cross-functional teams.

• Knowledge and understanding of supply chain management

• Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Lives up to the Company's mission, vision, and values

• Quick learner, able to handle fast paced, changing environment

• Excellent interpersonal skills and a team player

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in industrial management engineering, industrial Engineering, business administration or equivalent bachelor's degree

• Preferably with related experience in garment/textile industry, but is not a requirement

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and other reporting/analytics tools.

• ERP Experience (NextGen/ EDI preferred)