About the position
Our Client is looking for a Production Planning Trainee to Join their team
Location: Industria West Johannesburg
Job Purpose
The Production Planning Trainee will support the Production Planning department by assisting with production scheduling, data capturing, report generation, and monitoring manufacturing performance. The successful candidate will gain practical experience in production planning while developing strong analytical and Excel skills to support operational efficiency.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist with daily, weekly, and monthly production planning activities.
- Capture and maintain production data accurately in Microsoft Excel.
- Prepare daily production reports, planning schedules, and KPI reports.
- Update production trackers and planning spreadsheets.
- Monitor production progress against schedules and report any deviations.
- Assist in tracking raw material availability and production requirements.
- Liaise with production, warehouse, procurement, and logistics departments to obtain planning information.
- Ensure production planning documentation is accurate and up to date.
- Analyse production data and identify trends or areas requiring attention.
- Assist with inventory and stock reporting.
- Generate graphs, pivot tables, and dashboards in Excel for management reporting.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives within the Planning Department.
- Perform general administrative duties related to production planning.
- Adhere to company policies, quality standards, and health and safety requirements.
- Undertake any additional duties as reasonably assigned by management.
Required Skills and Competencies
- Intermediate to Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (essential), including:
- Formulas and functions
- Pivot Tables
- Charts and Graphs
- VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP (advantageous)
- Conditional Formatting
- Data Analysis
- Strong numerical and analytical ability.
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
- Good organisational and time management skills.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Willingness to learn and develop within a manufacturing environment.
- Problem-solving mindset.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Minimum Requirements
- Grade 12 (Matric).
- Diploma or Degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Logistics, Production Management, or a related field will be advantageous.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
- Previous exposure to a manufacturing environment would be advantageous but is not essential.
- Strong computer literacy and data capturing skills.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Accuracy of production reports.
- Timely completion of daily and weekly planning reports.
- Accuracy of production data captured.
- Compliance with reporting deadlines.
- Quality and accuracy of Excel spreadsheets and dashboards.
- Effective support to the Production Planning team.
- Continuous improvement in planning processes and reporting efficiency.
Career Development
This position is designed to provide practical exposure to production planning and manufacturing operations
Desired Skills:
- Production Planning Trainee
- Production Planning Intern
- Junior Production Planner
