Responsible for mass balancing the entire plant – unit by unit as well as global – and for producing forward plans of production with the input of Plant Management. The Production Planner is a key stakeholder in both the inputs and the results of the plans produced.

Must track actual production daily via the Production establishment and adduce reasons for any variance arising. In achieving this tracking role, the Production Planner interacts closely with the Production team to ensure that variances are objectively and accurately reported.

Key Responsibilities

MASS BALANCING (MET ACCOUNTING) FUNCTIONS

• Collect all mass data for processing inputs from the various plant units, including but not limited to weighbridge, feed store and stockpiles, limestone mill, acid and water tanks, boiler-house, reaction tanks, filter press, product store.
• Use mass data and metallurgical/chemical formulae to balance the movements of materials in a traceable manner.
• Use the mass balances to generate Cost Accounting inputs for the plant process.
• Any further raw material, work-in-progress and finished goods accounting tasks as may be assigned by the Plant Manager and/or the Finance Manager

TRACKING FUNCTIONS

• Monitor actual production and mass movement vs plans at each production step/unit.
• Validate actual performance figures found with the Process Unit Owners (Boiler, Miller, Press Operator, Weighbridge Operator, Mobile Plant Operator, etc.) to ensure that objective and accurate figures are to be utilized in the plant’s decision-making process.
• Clearly identify the variances – globally and at all process stages
• Propose or otherwise obtain objective reasons for the variances.

REPORTING FUNCTIONS

• Report the plant mass balances in format and frequency advised by Plant Manager
• Report the costing inputs from mass balances in format and frequency advised by Finance Administrator
• Issue the variance report in format and frequency advised by the Plant Manager
• Issue the forward Production Plans (Annual, Monthly, Weekly) in format and system advised by the Plant Manager
• Provide the Process Controllers with the Weekly Production Plans from which they are to derive their Daily performance targets.

PLANNING FUNCTIONS

• From the mass data as well as longer term plant performance goals, derive the Annual and Monthly production schedules as well as the Weekly performance targets.
• Convert the financial targets, via price and other cost inputs, to production targets and vice-versa.
• Understand and tabulate the unit cost inputs in collaboration with the Finance Administrator and Plant Manager.
• Provide the Process Controllers with the Weekly Production Plans from which they are to derive their Daily performance targets.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Full Grade 12 Certificate
• Diploma/Degree in Production Management, Chemical/Process Engineering. Financial Accounting discipline will be an added advantage.
• At least 3 years traceable experience in a similar role
• Computer Literate: comfortable with MS Office applications including Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Experience with Automated Process Control shall be an added advantage.
• Emotionally mature to handle multiple high-demand stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Physically fit enough to operate freely and in a hands-on manner on a widely spaced-out plant with frequent requirement to walk to heights and to follow up plant performance matters on site.