Deputy General Manager - Production Planning & Inventory Control

Role Purpose:

To lead and manage production planning, scheduling, and inventory control activities for 6 API Manufacturing units, ensuring optimal resource utilization, timely order fulfilment, regulatory compliance, and cost efficiency.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Production Planning & Scheduling:

- Develop and execute monthly, weekly, and daily production plans aligned with customer demand and capacity constraints.

- Coordinate with manufacturing, quality, and procurement teams to ensure smooth execution of production schedules.

- Optimize batch sequencing considering cleaning validation, campaign manufacturing, and product changeovers.

- Monitor production progress and adjust schedules based on deviations, breakdowns, or material shortages.

2. Inventory Management:

- Maintain optimal inventory levels of raw materials, intermediates, solvents, and finished APIs.

- Ensure compliance with FEFO/FIFO principles, especially for regulated markets.

- Minimize inventory carrying costs while preventing stock-outs.

- Monitor slow-moving, non-moving, and obsolete inventory and implement reduction strategies.

3. Material Planning & Coordination:

- Plan and track procurement of raw materials, packaging materials, and critical chemicals.

- Collaborate with procurement for timely availability of materials.

- Ensure availability of controlled substances and critical inputs with regulatory compliance.

4. Demand & Capacity Planning:

- Collaborate with sales and marketing teams to forecast demand.

- Conduct capacity planning based on reactor availability, utilities, manpower, and campaign requirements.

- Identify bottlenecks and propose solutions to optimize throughput.

5. Compliance & Documentation:

- Ensure all planning and inventory activities comply with cGMP, USFDA, EU GMP, and other regulatory requirements.

- Maintain accurate documentation in ERP systems (E.g., SAP/Oracle, etc.).

- Ensure data integrity and audit readiness at all times.

6. ERP/System Management:

- Lead PPIC-related modules in ERP systems (e.g., SAP PP/MM).

- Ensure accurate master data (BOM, routings, lead times).

- Generate and analyse MIS reports for decision-making.

7. Cross-Functional Coordination:

- Liaise with QA/QC for batch release timelines and quality issues.

- Work with maintenance teams to factor downtime into planning.

- Coordinate with logistics for dispatch planning and export documentation.

8. Continuous Improvement:

- Drive initiatives to improve planning accuracy, reduce lead times, and optimize inventory.

- Implement lean practices and digital tools for enhanced visibility and control.

- Track KPIs such as OTIF, inventory turnover, adherence to plan, and capacity utilization.

9. Reporting / Dashboards:

- Publish Monthly, Quarterly and yearly reports preparation on above themes.