Solution Architect - SAP Production Planning (PP) / Manufacturing

Rizing Consumer Industries

Bristol County, MA, USA

Published: 6/14/2022

Technology

Full Time

Solution Architect – SAP Production Planning (PP) / Manufacturing

Role Summary

The SAP Production Planning (PP) / Manufacturing Solution Architect is responsible for the end‑to‑end solution design of the Manufacturing and PP workstream based on business, functional, and technical requirements from enterprise‑scale customers within the Retail, Fashion & Lifestyle, and Consumer Products industries.
The Solution Architect ensures that SAP PP and Manufacturing solutions across SAP S/4HANA (PP, PP‑DS, MRP, Manufacturing Integration, Variant Configuration, MES integration) are designed to support efficient, flexible, and scalable manufacturing operations while meeting customer business objectives, timelines, and budgets.
This role requires deep expertise in manufacturing business processes, including demand‑driven planning, production execution, capacity planning, subcontracting, quality integration, and end‑to‑end supply chain alignment.

Key Responsibilities

Solution Ownership & Design
Own the overall SAP PP / Manufacturing solution architecture, including:
Demand management and MRP/MRP Live
Production planning, scheduling, and capacity planning
Make‑to‑Stock, Make‑to‑Order, and Engineer‑to‑Order scenarios
Subcontracting, repetitive manufacturing, and variant configuration
Design scalable manufacturing solutions aligned with Retail and Fashion manufacturing models, including seasonal production, high‑SKU/variant complexity, outsourced manufacturing, and global plants.
Ensure seamless integration of PP with SAP MM, SD/OTC, EWM, QM, CO, APO/PP‑DS (where applicable), and MES/third‑party shop floor systems.
Translate complex manufacturing requirements into robust SAP PP solutions that optimize throughput, cost, and service levels.
Customer Engagement & Advisory
Act as a trusted advisor for SAP Manufacturing and PP best practices by:
Leading strategic manufacturing workshops (Explore, Fit‑to‑Standard, Design Thinking).
Advising customers on production planning strategies, capacity optimization, and scheduling approaches.
Helping customers balance flexibility, cost efficiency, and service levels in dynamic demand environments.
Clearly articulate manufacturing concepts, constraints, and design decisions to business, operations, and IT stakeholders.
Identify opportunities for manufacturing optimization, automation, and digital enablement across the production lifecycle.

Delivery & Governance

Oversee all PP and Manufacturing design and delivery activities across one or more projects.
Work with Project Managers and Consulting Managers to:
Define scope, effort, timelines, and resourcing for the manufacturing workstream.
Identify and mitigate risks related to plant complexity, master data readiness, and production dependencies.
Ensure manufacturing solutions are delivered on time, within scope, and at high quality, supporting KPIs such as schedule adherence, capacity utilization, production cost, and inventory optimization.
Validate alignment between demand planning, production execution, and financial outcomes.

Pre‑Sales & Practice Contribution

Participate in pre‑sales engagements by:
Shaping SAP Manufacturing and PP solution roadmaps.
Contributing to proposals, delivery estimates, and manufacturing transformation strategies.
Demonstrating thought leadership in manufacturing modernization discussions.
Partner closely with Rizing Sales to translate manufacturing challenges into structured consulting engagements with clear business value.

Leadership & People Development

Provide functional leadership for the SAP PP / Manufacturing workstream.
Mentor and coach PP consultants, production planners, and solution leads.
Identify skill gaps and recommend training in advanced PP, PP‑DS, S/4HANA Manufacturing, and digital shop‑floor integration.
Provide clear, actionable feedback on individual and team performance.
Act as a role model in solution quality, governance, and customer engagement.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

Stay current with SAP Manufacturing innovations, including:
S/4HANA manufacturing capabilities
PP‑DS, advanced MRP, and manufacturing analytics
SAP Digital Manufacturing (DM)
Automation and Industry 4.0 enablers
Research emerging tools and accelerators to streamline PP solution delivery.
Champion Rizing methodologies and suggest process improvements to enhance manufacturing project outcomes.
Document and disseminate manufacturing knowledge through playbooks, templates, and enablement sessions.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional qualification.
10–12+ years of SAP functional and solution architecture experience, with deep expertise in SAP PP and Manufacturing.
Demonstrated experience delivering manufacturing solutions for Retail, Fashion, or Consumer Products organizations.
Strong understanding of cross‑functional integration with MM, SD/OTC, CO, QM, EWM, and shop‑floor systems.
Hands‑on experience leading at least 2 full SAP S/4HANA or ECC implementations in an Architect or Lead role.
Knowledge and experience with attune implementation methodology or similar structured delivery frameworks.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities (KSAs)

Advanced expertise in:
SAP PP (MRP, Production Orders, Capacity Planning)
Variant Configuration and complex BOM/Routing scenarios
Integration with MES and plant systems
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with an operational mindset.
Excellent communication and presentation skills across business and technical audiences.
Proven leadership, stakeholder management, and influencing capabilities.
Results‑oriented mindset with strong customer focus.
Ability and willingness to adopt new manufacturing technologies and delivery approaches.

Work Environment & Special Considerations