PRODUCTION PLANNING MANAGER LF

Who We Are LaFrance Corp is a privately owned business founded in 1946. Our corporate headquarters is located in Concordville, Delaware County, PA. LaFrance Corp is a creative work community with a strong corporate culture and fundamental core values such as Family, Teamwork, Use of the Creative Process, Respect for our Roots, Love of Technical Challenges, Honest and Fair, and Home-Grown Management. Business Units within LaFrance Corp include LaFrance, PacTec, Benmatt Industries and JAT Creative Products. LaFrance Corp is a global leader in the design, development, and manufacturing of on-product branding. We work with top leaders in consumer and professional markets. Our products can be seen on high-end sunglasses, premium refrigerators, car key fobs, top-rated golf clubs, robotic vacuums, and much more. We believe small details make a lasting impression and build brand strength for our customers. What Sets Us Apart At LaFrance our core guiding principle is to Live Long and Prosper. With over 75 years of experience, we continue to drive value and success with top global brands. We maintain a casual, yet professional atmosphere and promotion from within is an essential core value. We believe in a work life balance and promote a healthy lifestyle program for all employees. Our volunteer team provides multiple opportunities a year to serve our community. We acknowledge our team members years of services with quarterly employee luncheons, knowing the people are what makes our company great. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, vacation, paid holidays, relaxed dress code, culture teams, 401K Plan, and a fitness center on the premises. LaFrance Corp is currently seeking a Production Planning Manager. This is a hybrid role. About the Role We seek an experienced Supply Chain professional who thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment, and is open to non-traditional approaches to achieving business results. The successful candidate will lead the Production Planning department while directly supporting a subset of accounts to maintain deep operational understanding. The ideal candidate brings a strong combination of leadership, systems thinking, and analytical capability. They demonstrate intellectual curiosity, ownership, and persistence in achieving complex results, and are motivated to continuously improve processes and team performance.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Development Lead and develop the Production Planning team; align responsibilities to team strengths Assess team capacity and ensure appropriate workload distribution Establish accountability for performance and results across planning activities Production Planning and Execution Oversee production planning activities to meet customer demand and on-time delivery targets Maintain direct involvement in planning for a subset of key accounts Drive daily communication with LaFrance Asia production teams regarding manufacturing and shipping requirements Ensure alignment between forecast, production schedules, and inventory positions Escalate operational non-performance issues to management and help drive recovery plans Systems and Process Ownership Own and continuously improve MRP processes and planning methodologies Develop a deep expertise in Business Central and supporting systems Lead enhancements related to inventory management structures Data, Reporting & Analysis Analyze forecast, inventory, and production data to optimize planning parameters Build and enhance data models using Excel, Power Query, and Power BI Deliver clear, concise reporting and insights to support quick decision-making Translate complex data into actionable narratives for leadership and cross-functional teams Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with Customer Service, Account Management, Project Management , and Global operations teams to ensure shared visions of business results Communicate production schedules, delivery updates, and non-performance risks to internal stakeholders Maintain strong working relationships with cross-team department leads Continuous Improvement & Project Leadership Analyze existing workflows to identify gaps, inefficiencies, and documentation needs Lead projects related to system enhancements and process improvements Apply structured change management to ensure successful implementation of improvements

Qualifications:

5-10 years experience in a Supply Chain related role Prior leadership experience managing or mentoring a team Strong expertise in inventory management in a global environment Strong understanding of domestic and international logistics Hands-on experience with Microsoft Dynamics NAV or Business Central Advanced Excel knowledge including complex formula creation and data modeling with Power Query Experience with Power BI or similar reporting tools Ability to analyze data and present findings clearly Strong understanding of databases, data structures, and data-driven decision making Basic programming or scripting experience preferred Ability to set goals and devise strategic plans to accomplish results Excellent organizational and time management skills Excellent communication skills; High attention to detail and ownership of outcomes

Requirements:

Ability to be on-site in Concordville, PA approximately 1-4 times per month Ability to travel to Asia and domestic manufacturing locations (Sarasota, FL) approximately once per year Strong intellectual curiosity and drive for continuous learning Proven ability to design and improve systems and processes Comfort operating in ambiguity and building structures where it does not exist Self-motivated with high level of accountability