What are the responsibilities and job description for the Production Planning Supervisor position at Slate Auto?
About Slate
At Slate, we’re building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize and love—and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them.
| WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are seeking a proactive, high-energy leader to serve in the dual-purpose role of Production Scheduling & Master Planning Supervisor for our automotive manufacturing operations in Warsaw, IN. This position serves as the heartbeat of the plant, orchestrating the complex flow of a high-volume assembly environment.
In this strategic, "dual-hat" capacity, you will manage both the granular daily execution on the shop floor and the long-range Master Production Schedule (MPS). You will lead a team of planners and schedulers to ensure an uninterrupted flow of materials while balancing customer demand against equipment capacity and inventory targets. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who anticipates problems before they arrive and is equally comfortable in a high-vis vest on the shop floor as they are presenting attainment metrics in a boardroom.
| WHAT YOU GET TO DO
Master Scheduling & Strategic Planning
At Slate, we’re fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail. The start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness move our business forward. Team Slate fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and mutual respect, and is motivated by shared principles.
Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason.
Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at
slate-talent_acquisition@slate.auto.
At Slate, we’re building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize and love—and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them.
| WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are seeking a proactive, high-energy leader to serve in the dual-purpose role of Production Scheduling & Master Planning Supervisor for our automotive manufacturing operations in Warsaw, IN. This position serves as the heartbeat of the plant, orchestrating the complex flow of a high-volume assembly environment.
In this strategic, "dual-hat" capacity, you will manage both the granular daily execution on the shop floor and the long-range Master Production Schedule (MPS). You will lead a team of planners and schedulers to ensure an uninterrupted flow of materials while balancing customer demand against equipment capacity and inventory targets. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who anticipates problems before they arrive and is equally comfortable in a high-vis vest on the shop floor as they are presenting attainment metrics in a boardroom.
| WHAT YOU GET TO DO
Master Scheduling & Strategic Planning
- Establish and Own the MPS: Develop and maintain the Master Production Schedule, balancing long-term OEM requirements and vital service demands.
- Demand & Capacity Optimization: Analyze historical performance data and equipment OEE to refine scheduling logic, ensuring the facility can meet future demand within designated time fences.
- Strategic Process Development: Implement material planning and scheduling processes that support overarching business goals and customer requirements.
- Cross-Functional Bridge: Act as the primary link between Production Control, Manufacturing, and Service to ensure alignment on daily, weekly, and monthly output goals.
- Personnel Management: Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of material planners and schedulers, setting clear goals and performance expectations.
- Daily Tier Management: Lead daily production stand-up meetings (Tiers), providing clear direction on priorities, recovery plans, and short-term execution.
- Work Order Governance: Issue and manage Work Orders through the ERP/MES system (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Plex), ensuring data integrity and timely closing of production signals.
- MRP Management: Create and manage material requirement plans (MRPs) based on production forecasts and customer orders to prevent shortages or overstocking.
- Launch & Transition Support: Manage "run-out" and "ramp-up" schedules for new model year launches and the transition of obsolete parts.
- KPI Management: Generate and analyze key metrics, including schedule attainment, inventory turns, on-time delivery (OTD), and material availability.
- System Agility: Maintain a high degree of Excel flexibility to build "offline" models, pivot tables, and trackers for solving complex problems on the fly.
- Waste Reduction: Identify opportunities to reduce changeover times and optimize batch sizes through lean scheduling principles.
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field. Master’s degree is preferred.
- 5 to 8 years of experience in production scheduling, master planning, or material planning, specifically within a high-volume automotive or Tier-1 supplier environment.
- Strong proficiency in ERP/MES systems (e.g., NetSuite, Oracle, SAP, Plex, FUUZ) and inventory control practices.
- Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel (lookups, complex formulas, pivot tables, and data visualization) is required.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills with the "grit" to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization—from shop floor operators to senior leadership.
- Deep understanding of Just-in-Time (JIT) and Just-in-Sequence (JIS) delivery models.
- Familiarity with Theory of Constraints (ToC) and scheduling around bottleneck operations.
- Proven ability to remain calm and analytical when production priorities shift mid-shift.
At Slate, we’re fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail. The start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness move our business forward. Team Slate fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and mutual respect, and is motivated by shared principles.
- Safety First
- Delight Customers
- One Team
- Relentless Improvement
- Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy
- Respectful Collaboration
- Positive Legacy
Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason.
Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at
slate-talent_acquisition@slate.auto.