Master Scheduler (Top Rated Local Manufacturing Facility)!!!

Job Description

Job Description

Production Scheduler / PlannerPosition Summary

The Production Scheduler / Planner is responsible for developing, maintaining, and communicating production schedules that support on-time delivery, efficient use of manufacturing resources, and optimal inventory levels. This position coordinates closely with Production, Operations, Purchasing, Materials, Quality, Engineering, Sales, and Customer Service to ensure that customer demand is translated into realistic and achievable production plans.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, analytical, detail-oriented, and able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. The Production Scheduler / Planner must be comfortable identifying potential constraints, resolving scheduling conflicts, and adjusting plans in response to changing customer requirements, material availability, equipment capacity, and production performance.

Key ResponsibilitiesProduction Planning & Scheduling

• Develop and maintain daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules based on customer demand, inventory requirements, available capacity, and manufacturing priorities.
• Translate customer orders, forecasts, and material requirements into executable production plans.
• Schedule production orders and work centers to optimize labor, equipment, materials, and available manufacturing capacity.
• Balance production requirements with available resources to minimize downtime, overtime, changeovers, and production bottlenecks.
• Establish realistic production start and completion dates and communicate schedule commitments to appropriate departments.
• Monitor production progress against the schedule and make adjustments as needed.
• Identify potential delays or capacity constraints before they impact customer deliveries.
• Prioritize and reschedule work orders based on changing customer requirements, material availability, equipment issues, and operational priorities.
• Coordinate short-term and long-term capacity planning with Operations and Manufacturing leadership.
• Maintain appropriate production lead times and scheduling parameters within the company's ERP/MRP system.

Materials & Inventory Coordination

• Work closely with Purchasing and Materials Management to ensure required raw materials, components, and outside services are available when needed.
• Review material availability and identify shortages that could affect production schedules.
• Coordinate with Purchasing regarding expected material receipt dates and expedite requirements.
• Monitor inventory levels and help balance customer demand with appropriate raw material and finished-goods inventory.
• Support efforts to reduce excess and obsolete inventory while maintaining adequate supply for production requirements.
• Coordinate production plans with material requirements planning (MRP) outputs.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Communicate production schedules and changes clearly to Production, Purchasing, Warehouse, Quality, Engineering, Sales, Customer Service, and Management.
• Participate in daily production meetings and provide updates regarding schedule performance, constraints, and anticipated issues.
• Partner with Production Supervisors to ensure schedules are achievable based on labor and equipment availability.
• Coordinate with Quality and Engineering regarding holds, inspections, engineering changes, process changes, and other issues affecting production.
• Work with Customer Service and Sales to provide accurate production and delivery commitments.
• Escalate significant schedule risks and potential customer-impacting issues to management in a timely manner.

ERP/MRP & Data Management

• Create, release, update, and close production/work orders within the company's ERP/MRP system.
• Maintain accurate scheduling data, including lead times, due dates, quantities, priorities, and production status.
• Review MRP recommendations and convert requirements into practical production schedules.
• Ensure production planning information is accurate and current.
• Generate and maintain reports related to production schedules, capacity, inventory, order status, and on-time delivery.
• Identify data discrepancies and coordinate corrective actions with appropriate departments.

Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement

• Track production performance against established schedules and identify recurring causes of schedule delays.
• Monitor key performance indicators such as on-time production, on-time delivery, schedule attainment, capacity utilization, inventory levels, and production lead times.
• Analyze production data to identify opportunities to improve scheduling efficiency and manufacturing flow.
• Participate in continuous improvement, Lean Manufacturing, 5S, and process-improvement initiatives.
• Recommend improvements to planning processes, scheduling methods, ERP/MRP functionality, and cross-functional communication.
• Help develop standardized procedures for production planning and scheduling.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Business, Industrial Engineering, or a related field; equivalent manufacturing experience may be considered.
• 2–5 years of experience in production planning, production scheduling, materials planning, supply chain, or a related manufacturing role.
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including the ability to work with formulas, filters, pivot tables, and production/inventory data.
• Ability to interpret production requirements, inventory information, capacity constraints, and customer demand.
• Strong attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, Epicor, Infor, Plex, or similar manufacturing systems.
• APICS/ASCM certification such as CPIM or CSCP.
• Experience with finite-capacity scheduling.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies.
• Experience in a make-to-order, engineer-to-order, or high-mix/low-volume manufacturing environment.
• Experience working with BOMs, routings, work centers, MRP, and production orders.
• Advanced Excel skills or experience with data-analysis/reporting tools.

Key Skills

• Production scheduling
• Production planning
• MRP/ERP systems
• Capacity planning
• Inventory management
• Materials planning
• Demand planning
• Supply chain coordination
• Problem solving
• Data analysis
• Microsoft Excel
• Cross-functional communication
• Prioritization and time management
• Continuous improvement
• Manufacturing operations