Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Textile Planner

🎯 Role Definition

The Textile Planner is the strategic backbone of the textile production process. This individual ensures that the right quantity and quality of fabrics and raw materials are available at the right time to meet production schedules and customer demand. Balancing inventory levels, forecasting needs, and coordinating with suppliers and production teams, the Textile Planner directly impacts efficiency, cost, and the company's ability to deliver on its promises. It's a role that requires a unique blend of analytical prowess, market awareness, and collaborative spirit to navigate the complexities of a global supply chain.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Junior Planner / Planning Assistant
Production Coordinator
Supply Chain Analyst

Advancement To:

Senior Textile Planner
Planning Manager
Supply Chain Manager

Lateral Moves:

Merchandising Planner
Sourcing Specialist / Buyer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop and maintain detailed demand forecasts for raw materials and fabrics based on historical sales data, seasonal trends, and new product introductions.
Translate the master production schedule into specific material requirement plans (MRP) to ensure the timely availability of all textile components for manufacturing.
Create, issue, and diligently manage purchase orders for fabrics and trims with both domestic and international suppliers, ensuring accuracy in quantity, price, and delivery dates.
Continuously monitor and analyze raw material inventory levels against production needs to optimize stock turn, minimize carrying costs, and prevent stockouts or overstock situations.
Collaborate closely with design and product development teams to understand new material requirements and provide crucial feedback on lead times, cost implications, and sourcing feasibility.
Conduct long-range capacity planning for key materials and suppliers to identify potential future bottlenecks and develop proactive mitigation strategies.
Serve as the primary point of contact for textile suppliers, building strong professional relationships and managing day-to-day communication regarding orders, shipments, and quality control.
Track and evaluate supplier performance against key metrics such as on-time delivery, quality acceptance rates, and cost, providing regular feedback to drive improvement.
Analyze and manage the "buy plan" for all fabrics, making strategic decisions on when and how much material to purchase to align with the company's financial and inventory goals.
Coordinate the logistics of inbound raw materials, working with freight forwarders and customs brokers to ensure smooth and timely receipt into warehouses or factory partners.
Proactively identify and resolve potential material shortages by expediting orders, finding alternative suppliers, or suggesting material substitutions in collaboration with technical teams.
Maintain impeccable data integrity within the company's ERP/MRP system, ensuring all planning parameters like lead times, safety stock, and minimum order quantities are accurate.
Develop and manage a rolling production and material plan, typically on a 12-18 month horizon, to provide leadership with visibility for strategic decision-making.
Generate and present regular planning reports and KPIs (e.g., inventory turns, stock-to-sales ratio, on-time availability) to supply chain leadership and other stakeholders.
Reconcile inventory discrepancies that arise between system records and physical counts, investigating root causes and implementing robust corrective actions.
Manage the strategic allocation of available fabric to specific production orders or cutting plans to maximize material yield and prioritize key customer commitments.
Evaluate and manage risks within the material supply chain, including geopolitical issues, supplier financial stability, and raw material price volatility.
Actively participate in the sales and operations planning (S&OP) process, providing critical input on material availability and all supply-side constraints.
Oversee the entire lifecycle of materials, identifying slow-moving or obsolete inventory and developing sound strategies for its disposition or profitable consumption.
Continuously seek and propose opportunities to improve planning processes, tools, and systems to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and increase overall supply chain responsiveness.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis related to material consumption, waste, and supplier performance.
Contribute to the organization's broader supply chain strategy and roadmap, particularly in areas of material management and sourcing.
Collaborate with finance and accounting teams to ensure accurate costing and valuation of raw material inventory.
Participate in cross-functional project teams for new system implementations, such as a new ERP or advanced planning software.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

ERP Systems Proficiency: Deep practical knowledge of major ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics) with a focus on MRP, purchasing, and inventory management modules.
Advanced Excel: Mastery of Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, advanced formulas (VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH), macros, and data modeling for complex analysis.
Supply Chain Fundamentals: A strong, comprehensive understanding of core supply chain principles, including demand forecasting methodologies, inventory management strategies (e.g., JIT, safety stock calculations), and capacity planning.
Dedicated Planning Software: Experience with specialized planning software (e.g., Blue Yonder, O9 Solutions, Anaplan) is a significant asset.
Textile & Apparel Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of textile manufacturing processes, global sourcing lead times, fabric construction, dyeing, and finishing techniques.
PLM Systems: Familiarity with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems and how they integrate with planning and ERP systems.
Bill of Materials (BOM) Interpretation: The ability to accurately read and interpret complex bills of materials to ensure all components are planned correctly.

Soft Skills

Analytical & Quantitative Acumen: Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with a talent for interpreting complex data sets to drive informed decisions.
Negotiation & Relationship Management: Strong negotiation skills and the ability to build and maintain positive, productive relationships with global suppliers.
Clear Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the proven ability to present complex information clearly and concisely to diverse audiences.
Attention to Detail: An extremely high level of attention to detail and accuracy, which is critical when managing thousands of SKUs and high-value purchase orders.
Adaptability & Resilience: A proactive and adaptable mindset, with the ability to thrive and remain calm in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, and constantly changing environment.
Organization & Prioritization: World-class organizational and time-management skills, with a demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple competing tasks effectively.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's or Master's Degree

Relevant Fields of Study:

Supply Chain Management
Business Administration
Operations Management
Industrial Engineering
Textiles

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-7 years of experience in a planning, buying, or analytical supply chain role.

Preferred: Experience specifically within the apparel, footwear, home goods, or broader textile manufacturing industry is highly preferred and valued.