Sr. Production Control Lead

JOB DESCRIPTION: The Senior Production Control Lead is responsible for leading the daily operations of the Production Control team by coordinating production schedules, material planning, inventory control, and customer requirements to ensure efficient manufacturing operations and on-time delivery. This position provides direct leadership to Production Control personnel while collaborating with Production, Purchasing, Materials, Logistics, Customer Service, and other departments to achieve operational, quality, and customer satisfaction goals.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the daily activities of the Production Control team to ensure production schedules and customer delivery requirements are achieved.
• Directly supervise Production Control personnel, including assigning work, monitoring performance, coaching, mentoring, and developing team members.
• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, training, and performance evaluations of Production Control employees.
• Develop, maintain, and adjust production schedules based on customer demand, production capacity, material availability, and inventory levels.
• Coordinate material requirements to ensure uninterrupted production while maintaining optimal inventory levels.
• Monitor schedule attainment and implement corrective actions to address production or material shortages.
• Collaborate with Production, Purchasing, Warehouse, Logistics, Customer Service, Engineering, and Quality to resolve scheduling and material-related issues.
• Analyze production data, inventory levels, and key performance indicators to identify trends and opportunities for process improvements.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to improve production planning accuracy, inventory control, and operational efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, safety standards, quality systems, and production procedures.
• Prepare and communicate production status reports, scheduling updates, and performance metrics to leadership.
• Support plant operational objectives related to safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for production scheduling and material planning issues.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND ABILITIES:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in production control, scheduling, materials planning, or supply chain operations in a manufacturing environment.
• Minimum of two (2) years of supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Automotive manufacturing experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, inventory management, MRP/ERP systems, and manufacturing operations.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including PivotTables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, and data analysis.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven leadership, coaching, and employee development skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Regularly work a minimum of 40 hours per week, with overtime as required.
• Ability to work for extended periods using a computer.
• Ability to sit or stand for up to eight (8) hours per day.