SAP S/4HANA Production Planning (PP) and Production Execution (PE) Lead

Role Summary: We are seeking an experienced SAP S/4HANA Production Planning (PP) and Production Execution (PE) Lead to drive complex manufacturing transformations across discrete, process, and hybrid manufacturing environments. This role requires deep functional expertise in SAP PP/PE combined with strong experience integrating MES platforms and third-party Warehouse Management Systems within large-scale, global manufacturing programs. The ideal candidate brings a business-first mindset, understands shop floor realities, and can translate manufacturing operations into scalable, standardized SAP solutions.
Key Responsibilities
Production Planning & Execution: Lead end-to-end design and implementation of SAP S/4HANA PP and Production Execution capabilities, including:

• Demand-driven planning and MRP
• Capacity planning and sequencing
• Production orders, confirmations, and backflushing
• Scrap, rework, yield, and variance management
• Regrind, co-products, and by-products (where applicable)
• Drive fit-to-standard workshops with manufacturing stakeholders while protecting true operational differentiators
• Design scalable planning and execution models across multi-plant environments

MES & Shop Floor Integration

• Define and lead integration between SAP S/4HANA and MES systems
• Align system responsibilities across:
• SAP (planning, costing, inventory, order management).
• MES (execution, machine data, performance, quality signals).
• Design integration patterns for:
• Production order dispatching.
• Confirmations, scrap, downtime, and performance feedback.
• Quality signals and exception handling.
• Partner with IT, OT, and automation teams to ensure reliable, real-time data flows.

Warehouse & Logistics Integration

• Collaborate with WMS teams (SAP EWM or third-party WMS) to align:
• Material staging and backflushing.
• Production supply areas and kanban.
• Finished goods putaway and shipment readiness.
• Design robust integration models between Production Execution and Warehouse operations, including 3PL interactions where applicable.

Data, Governance & Controls

• Lead manufacturing master data design:
• Materials, BOMs (EBOM/MBOM), routings, work centers.
• Production versions and costing views.
• Establish governance for:
• Scrap and defect codes (aligned with QM).
• Production data quality and ownership.
• Change management for shop floor processes.

Program & Stakeholder Leadership

• Act as the primary manufacturing SME for PP/PE across the program.
• Partner with business leaders, plant managers, quality, supply chain, and finance.
• Support executive decision-making with clear tradeoffs and risk assessments.
• Mentor junior consultants and contribute to asset and accelerator development.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of SAP manufacturing experience with deep PP/PE expertise.
• Multiple SAP S/4HANA implementations (greenfield and/or conversions).
• Hands-on experience integrating MES platforms with SAP.
• Strong understanding of shop floor operations and manufacturing KPIs.
• Experience with third-party WMS or SAP EWM in manufacturing contexts.
• Proven ability to lead complex design discussions and drive decisions.

Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in Injection Molding, Discrete Manufacturing, A&D, or Regulated Industries
Knowledge of:

• SAP PP-DS, IBP, or aATP.
• Quality Management (QM) integration.
• Industry 4.0, IoT, or digital manufacturing initiatives.
• Prior role as Solution Architect or Functional Lead.
• Strong executive communication and storytelling skills.

What Success Looks Like

• Manufacturing processes are standardized, scalable, and adopted
• SAP and MES work together seamlessly no duplicate execution
• Shop floor users trust the system and the data
• Production variance and scrap are visible, actionable, and reduced
• The solution supports today s operations and tomorrow s growth