Andrea Sante Di Mezza · Production Planning Engineer
Production Planning & Supply Chain Engineer
Turning operations into a competitive advantage.
As a production planning engineer in the aerospace & defense industry at Leonardo S.p.A., I specialise in production planning and control. Certified APICS CPIM and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, I help organisations plan better and reduce waste. In addition, I adopt AI-driven automation so that operations become leaner, more predictable and ready for the future.
Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (ASCM).
Green Belt in process improvement and DMAIC.
Degree in Management Engineering, Rome.
Production Planning & Control at Leonardo S.p.A.
About Me: Production Planning Engineer
I hold a degree in Management Engineering from Sapienza University of Rome. Today I work as a production planning engineer at Leonardo S.p.A., in the aerospace & defense sector, where reliable delivery plans, material availability and balanced capacity are critical to every programme.
My approach blends APICS CPIM best practices in S&OP, master scheduling and MRP with Lean Six Sigma tools. Moreover, I build hands-on digital solutions, from planning web applications to SAP automation in Python and VBA. As a result, I can bridge the gap between strategy and the shop floor with data-driven decisions that people can actually use.
Alongside my professional work, I also write educational material on supply chain, operations and project management. Finally, I explore how artificial intelligence can make planning faster, smarter and more resilient.
Core Expertise
A complete view of operations, from long-term planning to daily execution. In addition, every activity is supported by Lean thinking and digital tools.
Production Planning & Control
- Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP)
- Master Production Scheduling (MPS)
- Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
- Capacity planning (RCCP / CRP)
- Inventory management & replenishment
Lean & Improvement
- Lean manufacturing & value stream mapping
- Kanban & pull systems
- Six Sigma DMAIC problem solving
- Visual management & KPIs
- Change management & training
Digital & Automation
- SAP production & materials management
- Python & VBA process automation
- Planning web applications (MPS/MRP)
- Data analysis & reporting
- AI applied to business processes
Portfolio
Educational material and a structured handbook on supply chain, operations and project management.
Case Studies
Value stream analysis and waste reduction to shorten lead time and improve flow on a high-volume line.
Pull-based replenishment to reduce WIP, stabilise flow and make material needs visible.
Shop-floor boards and KPIs that turn performance data into daily, actionable decisions.
Team coordination, training and engagement to sustain improvement over time.
Services
How I Work as a Production Planning Engineer
A structured, measurable method to improve operational performance. Above all, the goal is to make results last.
First, map processes and data flows, measure current performance and identify the real constraints.
Then, redesign planning and production flows with Lean, Six Sigma and the right level of automation.
Finally, standardise, train teams and monitor KPIs with visual management to lock in the gains.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a production planning engineer do?
A production planning engineer translates customer demand into feasible production and material plans. For this reason, the role covers master scheduling, MRP, capacity checks and order monitoring. As a result, the right products are built at the right time, with minimum inventory and cost.
How can Lean Six Sigma help a production planning engineer?
Lean removes waste and shortens lead times. Meanwhile, Six Sigma reduces variability through data-driven problem solving. When applied to planning, they make schedules more stable and improve on-time delivery. In addition, they reduce expediting and excess stock.
Why does APICS CPIM matter for a production planning engineer?
CPIM (Certified in Planning and Inventory Management) by ASCM is an internationally recognised standard for planning, scheduling, MRP, inventory management and S&OP. Therefore, it provides a common, best-practice language across supply chain and operations teams.
How does a production planning engineer use AI?
For example, AI and automation can speed up data extraction from ERP systems such as SAP and support demand and capacity analysis. Furthermore, they can flag planning exceptions. Consequently, planners are freed from repetitive tasks and can focus on decisions.
Do you offer production planning training or consulting?
Yes. I offer training on Lean, production planning (MPS/MRP) and project management. In addition, I support change management and continuous improvement initiatives. So, feel free to get in touch on LinkedIn to discuss your needs.
Let's Connect
Looking for a production planning engineer to support supply chain optimisation, Lean Six Sigma projects or team training? Or perhaps you are interested in a collaboration, or simply in exchanging ideas on operations and AI? In any case, let’s connect on LinkedIn.