Department Manager – Production Planning

The Department Manager of Production Planning is responsible for leading the company’s production planning and scheduling operations to ensure efficient coordination of labor, machines, materials, and order flow across the organization’s aluminum distribution and fabrication operations.

This role manages the planning and scheduling team responsible for translating customer demand into executable production schedules across multiple work centers including saws, machining, fabrication, finishing, and shipping. The manager ensures that production schedules maximize throughput, maintain on-time delivery, and align with the company’s operational capacity.

The position requires strong leadership, disciplined operational execution, and the ability to coordinate cross-functional teams under time-sensitive conditions. The successful candidate will build structured planning systems, improve scheduling processes, and lead a high-performing team focused on reliability, efficiency, and continuous improvement.

Production Planning & Scheduling Leadership

• Develop and manage the master production schedule for all fabrication and processing operations.
• Coordinate daily and weekly production schedules across multiple work centers.
• Balance machine capacity, labor availability, and order priorities to maximize throughput.
• Ensure production plans support customer delivery commitments and operational efficiency.
• Adjust schedules as needed to respond to operational disruptions, material constraints, or priority changes.

 Capacity Planning & Resource Allocation

• Analyze production capacity, machine utilization, and workforce availability.
• Identify bottlenecks and coordinate solutions with production leadership.
• Support long-range planning for equipment, labor, and operational expansion.
• Recommend operational improvements that increase throughput and reduce lead times.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate closely with sales, customer service, purchasing, and production supervisors to align schedules with demand and operational capability.
• Facilitate daily operational coordination meetings to review schedule performance and resolve issues.
• Ensure clear communication of production priorities across departments.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and develop a team of production schedulers and planning staff.
• Establish disciplined planning procedures and standard operating processes.
• Train team members on scheduling systems, operational flow, and planning best practices.
• Foster a culture of accountability, communication, and continuous improvement.

Operational Execution & Order Flow Management

• Monitor production performance against planned schedules.
• Track order progress through the production system and ensure timely completion.
• Support escalation and resolution of delayed or critical orders.
• Maintain visibility into work-in-process inventory and production status.

Data & Systems Management

• Oversee use of ERP and scheduling systems to support production planning.
• Ensure accurate routing, lead times, and production data within company systems.
• Work with operations leadership to improve scheduling tools and reporting systems.
• Utilize operational data to improve forecasting and planning accuracy.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve production flow, scheduling efficiency, and operational performance.
• Implement process improvements that reduce downtime, increase productivity, and improve schedule adherence.
• Support lean manufacturing and operational excellence initiatives.

The Department Manager of Production Planning must demonstrate:

• Strong operational judgment and decision-making under pressure
• Clear communication across multiple levels of the organization
• Ability to coordinate complex operations involving multiple teams
• Discipline in planning, accountability, and execution
• Commitment to developing high-performing teams

Education

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Degree in operations, engineering, logistics, or related field preferred.

Experience

• 5+ years of leadership experience managing teams in complex operational environments.
• Experience coordinating operations, logistics, planning, or scheduling activities.
• Experience leading teams under time-sensitive and high-accountability conditions.

Preferred Background

Candidates with leadership experience in structured, high-performance organizations such as military, industrial operations, or large-scale logistics environments are strongly encouraged to apply.

Candidates who have successfully led teams in complex operational environments — such as managing logistics, coordinating multi-unit operations, developing personnel, and executing structured plans under time constraints — will transition well into this role.

Bayou Metal Supply & Manufacturing is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.