Production Planning & Scheduling Manager

Department: Supply Chain Division: Operations

At Daniel Defense Only the Best Build the Best…

Daniel Defense engineers and manufactures the world’s finest weapon systems and accessories. Our mission to honor God and defend freedom is accomplished by serving customers and providing top quality solutions to our military, law enforcement and civilians that are seeking premium firearms for home defense, hunting, and sport shooting.

The Production Planning & Scheduling Manager is responsible for overseeing the execution of the planning process to ensure the alignment of demand and supply plans. In this role, the incumbent is responsible for creating and maintaining schedules, monitoring inventory levels, and working collaboratively with finance, production, sales, and purchasing teams to ensure that orders are shipped on-time, and inventory levels are optimized.

Essential Functions:

• Integrate sales forecasts, inventory planning, and operational capacity to ensure seamless execution.

• Collaborate with sales, marketing, finance, and operations to develop and refine demand forecasts and supply plans.
• Patricipate in weekly SIOP meetings, providing data-driven insights and recommendations to leadership.
• Monitor key performance metrics (KPIs) such as forecast accuracy, fill rates, and inventory turns.
• Develop and implement inventory control strategies to balance stock availability and cost efficiency.
• Analyze inventory trends, demand fluctuations, and supply risks, ensuring optimal stock levels.
• Work closely with procurement and supply chain teams to minimize excess and obsolete inventory.
• Utilize ERP/MRP systems to maintain accurate inventory records and planning parameters.
• Oversee production scheduling, ensuring alignment with demand forecasts and capacity constraints.
• Work with manufacturing and logistics teams to reduce lead times and optimize throughput.
• Address bottlenecks, constraints, and operational inefficiencies to improve overall scheduling accuracy.
• Ensure on-time delivery (OTD) performance, meeting customer expectations and service levels.
• Manage scheduling team responsible for creating and maintain production schedules
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to create and maintain production schedules that optimize inventory levels and meet customer demand
• Work with production and purchasing teams to align supply plan to demand plan
• Analyze production capacity and adapt the schedule to meet customer needs and optimize utilization
• Collaborate with sales and marketing teams to understand customer demand and New Product Launches and incorporate it into production schedules, forecasts, and plans
• Communicate production changes, deviations from schedule, and updates to all stakeholders
• Ensure data integrity and accuracy in the planning system
• Act as a change agent for continuous process improvement, systems implementation, and standardization efforts
• Responsible for demonstrating commitment to and leadership of environmental health and safety principles, policies and procedures.

• Participates in the company’s efforts to continuously improve in Safety, 6S, Quality, Delivery and Productivity.
• Expected to be a contributor to the company standards on high integrity, safety, fair and equitable treatment and a positive work environment
• Other responsibilities as deemed appropriate or necessary by management.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain/Operations management with 5-10+ years of progressive responsibility in Planning or Supply chain-oriented role or a combination of related experience, education and/or training to effectively perform the essential functions of the job.

• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with experience collaborating with cross-functional teams and suppliers
• Experience using MRP/ERP systems, strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and MS Office
• Ability to positively motivate individuals and teams to meet or exceed project expectations.

• Proven track record in managing production and Inventory.
• Great attention to detail and excellent record keeping skills.
• Ability to work, interact and effectively communicate with all company officials, employees, vendors, customers, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, identify and address problems, meet deadlines, and stay within budget. Experience coordinating work of production supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize and work with our Permission to Play Values.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to lift and carry awkward items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Requires intermittent standing, walking, sitting and bending throughout the workday.
• Must be able to work in a manufacturing environment, to include working in and around machinery, exposure to noise and chemicals, lights/lasers, etc.
• Must be able to wear appropriate Personal Protection Equipment as required by your position and/or Company policy.

Daniel Defense is an EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability employer and promotes a "Drug-Free Workplace."

Note: The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by those assigned to the job. This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel in this job. Responsibilities are subject to change at the discretion of the employer and do not establish a contract of employment – Daniel Defense is an at-will employer.