Workshop Planner

Our client is a globally recognised engineering and manufacturing organisation specialising in the design and manufacture of heavy-duty mineral processing equipment and machinery for the mining and related industries.
The organisation is known for its innovative engineering solutions, high-quality manufacturing standards and collaborative working environment. Due to continued operational requirements, they are seeking a highly organised and detail-oriented Workshop Planner to join their team in Edenvale.

The Opportunity

The Workshop Planner will be responsible for the planning, scheduling and monitoring of all jobs moving through the workshop. This includes new machine builds, spare parts fabrication, equipment repairs, refurbishment projects and assembly activities .
The successful candidate will work closely with workshop teams to establish realistic production timelines, monitor daily progress, identify potential bottlenecks and optimise workflow across machining, fabrication and assembly departments.
This is a hands-on workshop planning role and requires someone who is comfortable working directly with production teams and making rapid scheduling adjustments when priorities change.

Key Responsibilities

Scheduling & Workshop Planning

• Create and maintain master workshop schedules using Microsoft Project.
• Plan and schedule multiple concurrent workloads, including:
  • New machine builds
  • Spare parts manufacture
  • Equipment repairs
  • Refurbishment projects
  • Assembly work
• Develop and update workshop workflows to optimise workload distribution across machining, fabrication and assembly departments.
• Establish realistic production timelines based on available resources, equipment and workshop capacity.
• Identify the critical path for complex assembly, manufacturing and refurbishment projects.
• Sequence activities to ensure that upstream work is completed in time to support downstream assembly and delivery requirements.

Progress Tracking & Optimisation

• Track daily workshop activities and monitor work-in-progress (WIP) against planned schedules.
• Obtain regular progress updates from workshop personnel and update schedules accordingly.
• Monitor actual production performance against planned timelines.
• Forecast realistic completion dates based on workshop performance, machine availability and current workloads.
• Identify bottlenecks, delays and potential schedule slippages before they affect delivery dates.
• Develop and implement schedule adjustments when production priorities change.
• Assist with improving overall workshop utilisation, productivity and workflow.

Stakeholder & Operational Support

• Work closely with workshop supervisors, machinists, fabricators and assembly teams to maintain accurate production schedules.
• Provide scheduling support to ensure an efficient flow of work between departments.
• Liaise with the Commercial Department regarding order status, lead times, priority changes and target delivery dates .
• Update workshop schedules in response to urgent repair or breakdown requirements.
• Communicate potential delivery risks and schedule changes to relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure workshop planning information remains accurate and up to date.

Minimum Requirements

• NQF Level 4 / Grade 12 or equivalent is essential.
• Mathematics and Science as school subjects would be advantageous.
• A National Diploma, Higher Certificate or relevant technical qualification would be advantageous.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in planning and scheduling within a heavy fabrication or manufacturing environment .
• Direct experience within the mining machinery, mineral processing or heavy engineering sector will be highly advantageous.

Technical Requirements

• Microsoft Project proficiency is essential.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel , including data tracking, sorting and basic reporting.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word and MS Office.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering, fabrication, machining and assembly drawings .
• Good understanding of manufacturing and workshop processes.
• Familiarity with Bills of Materials (BOMs) and master assembly structures.
• Ability to analyse a master assembly BOM and determine which sub-assemblies and components need to be manufactured or completed first.
• Understanding of production sequencing and dependencies between workshop activities.

Key Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong logical and analytical thinking .
• Excellent planning and organisational skills.
• Strong ability to sequence activities and calculate realistic timeframes.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to work with multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Confident and assertive communication skills.
• Ability to obtain accurate progress information from busy workshop teams.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making ability.
• Ability to remain calm and adaptable when priorities change.
• Resilience when dealing with urgent breakdowns and unplanned work.
• A proactive approach to identifying potential delays before they impact delivery.
• Strong sense of urgency and accountability.

Please send your cv to *****@*****.co.za