The Manager – Planning will be responsible for driving end-to-end planning excellence across inventory, demand, supply, and production functions. The role demands a data-driven professional who can translate forecast insights into actionable plans, optimize stock levels, and ensure seamless product availability across channels — supporting the organization's growth objectives in a dynamic eyewear market. Responsibilities: • Inventory Planning • Develop and maintain optimal inventory levels across all SKUs — frames, lenses, accessories, and spare parts. • Define and monitor inventory norms including safety stock, reorder points, and maximum stock levels. • Conduct regular inventory health assessments and initiate corrective actions for slow-moving or ageing stock. 2. Demand Planning • Develop short, medium, and long-term demand forecasts using statistical models and market intelligence. • Collaborate with sales, marketing, and merchandising teams to incorporate promotional plans, new launches, and seasonal trends into forecasts. • Conduct SKU-level demand analysis to identify growth opportunities and rationalize underperforming products. • Facilitate monthly Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) reviews with cross-functional stakeholders. 3. Supply Planning • Translate demand plans into supply requirements and coordinate with procurement and vendor teams to ensure timely material availability. • Manage supplier lead times, capacity constraints, and order schedules to maintain uninterrupted supply flow. • Monitor and resolve supply gaps, escalating critical shortfalls to leadership with mitigation plans. • Evaluate alternate sourcing options and maintain vendor performance scorecards. • Drive supply chain risk assessments and build contingency plans for critical material categories. 4. Production Planning • Develop and maintain the Master Production Schedule (MPS) aligned with demand forecasts and capacity availability. • Coordinate with manufacturing teams to schedule production runs. • Monitor production adherence to schedule and initiate corrective actions to address deviations. 5. Inventory Replenishment • Design and execute replenishment strategies for retail outlets, warehouses, and e-commerce fulfilment centres. • Monitor replenishment triggers and automate order generation through ERP/planning tools wherever feasible. • Optimize replenishment frequency and order quantities to minimize carrying costs while maintaining service levels. • Track On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) metrics and take proactive actions to prevent stockouts or overstocking. • Collaborate with logistics and warehouse teams to ensure smooth inbound and outbound replenishment flows.