Production Scheduler

Position Summary:

The production scheduling process is designed to ensure that adequate resources are available and planned to comply with required Service Levels/On Time Delivery. The Production Scheduler (PS) controls the anticipated build schedule using the tools of Finite Production Planning, Planning Bills of Material, Routings, and Firm Planned Orders to validate plans and communicate the production schedule. The PS must possess detailed knowledge of all the materials and processes that contribute to manufacture and distribution of the products to be scheduled. The PS must also be capable of developing a working line of communication with people from all areas and all levels of the organization that influence or are affected by the production schedule.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

· Responsible for the planning and scheduling of production based on business demand, customer orders, and forecast

· Develop a production schedule that meets the on-time delivery goals of the business; analyze and identify risks associated with the production plan and proactively address these risks

· Revise production schedules when required due to design changes, labor or material shortages, backlogs or other interruptions

· Creates and reviews production schedule, forecast and customer orders, establishing a working sequence of each item and prioritizes each to ensure complete and on time shipment according to target inventory and/or customer service levels

· Leads production planning meetings with cross functional teams of the plant to establish priorities and share information on schedule and items coming up such as new product activities and other events of note

· Develop and revise schedules to comply with manufacturing constraints and guidelines. Schedules should optimize customer service while also taking into consideration staffing, changeovers and OEE/SAE optimization, and materials

· Plans and coordinates the STO Stock Transfer Orders of raw materials, components, packaging and finished goods between plant locations and maintains appropriate inventory balances to support production and order fulfillment

· Create and assemble work orders packets based upon the production schedule

· Evaluate and adjust production schedule and work center capacity load hours in order to maintain customer delivery requirements

· Assist in the development and documentation of the production scheduling procedures

· Work and confer with all necessary departments to exchange pertinent information to ensure customer quality requirements and on time delivery is being met, as well as to proactively address issues

· Establishes and communicates production priorities

· Confers with department supervisors/checks production status to determine progress of assigned production and schedule adherence (SA). Strive to meet 100% (+/-) 5% SA and complete SA daily

· Works with R&D, engineering, and sales to schedule new product production activities

· Collaborate with scheduling team to establish priorities through all work centers, external manufacturing (including sister plants), and quality processes

· Interface daily with site operations

· Ensure coordination with operations to execute production plan on a daily, weekly and monthly basis

· Maintain knowledge and compliance with company operating procedures, ISO, FDA, & regulatory guidelines

· Coordinate between functional areas within the plant to ensure a smooth flow of product and work is being supplied to each area to ensure on time completion of production schedules

· Coordinate and communicate necessary production schedule changes between Operations and Maintenance to insure most efficient scheduling of trials, downtime for maintenance and/or engineering, installations, and changeovers

· Review customer orders and provide delivery dates, along with details on any delays

· Processing of engineering changes which includes verifying that new revisions are entered in ERP, disposition of inventory, and notifying purchasing if vendor purchase orders are impacted

· Provide support for ERP upgrades, add-ons, and/or (new) go-live for the US and other countries, participating in any testing and training required

· Provide timely awareness and solutions as demand exceeds capacity and keep management informed of projected overtime requirements to meet the demand

· Expedites operations that delay schedules and alters schedules to meet unforeseen conditions. Adjusts schedules to meet emergencies caused by downtime, increased production demands, or material and/or manpower shortages

· Maintain inventories within coverage profiles and/or targets to provide best possible customer service

· Perform material requirement planning to create work orders to full customer orders

· Ensure material is available to attain the schedules and address any issues that may prevent schedule attainment

· Submits weekly overtime (OT) requests by machine/work center for approval

· Ability to identify issues and develop option based solutions

· Support monthly supply review details for the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process

· Analyzes production specifications and plant capacity data and determine production processes, raw material/component requirements, and quantity to reduce/optimize set ups and change overs

· Other reports and projects as requested by management

· Support other plants as needed, especially to provide PTO back up support

· Supports product safety, quality and legality

· Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

· Prepare special production studies, evaluations, and analyses, as directed by the planning manager or logistics manager for the purposes of strategy planning and other analytical studies

· Display a high degree of initiative and participation within the area towards meeting the area objectives

· Continues to improve skills in area and update technical expertise

· All other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies:

· Strong customer service skills

· Superior communication skills both verbally and written

· Excellent math skills

· Experience in MRP systems, with preference for experience with Made to Manage (current ERP)

· Action oriented

· Drive for results

· Integrity and trust with strong work ethic

· Strong organization skills

· Detail oriented

· Strong time management and prioritization skills

· Problem solving and troubleshooting skills

· Inventory management, including ERP inventory control, cycle counting, and reconciliation

· Proficient in MS Excel, including advanced spreadsheet creation and manipulation

· Organized and prompt, both with scheduled needs and response to issues

· Experience: 3-5 years of Production Planning and Materials Coordination experience, including: demand capacity analysis, production planning, purchasing, expediting, and/or inventory control in a manufacturing environment

• Experience in an ISO & FDA environment preferred
• Ability to communicate effectively in multi-discipline, cross cultural environment and levels of organization
• Ability to work in a team environment, as well as, autonomously
• Capable of handling stressful situations and manage conflict
• Possess personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to corporate mission
• Ability to read and comprehend complex instructions
• Basic knowledge and understanding of blue prints
• Maintain sense of urgency and ability to prioritize work
• Computer literate in various software applications (i.e. Microsoft Office)