What are the responsibilities and job description for the Production Scheduler – MDF Door Skin Manufacturing Facility position at STEVES AND SONS INC?
Position Summary
The Production Scheduler is responsible for developing and executing a disciplined production plan for the MDF Door Skin manufacturing operation. This role aligns with operational demand, die capacity and plant capacity, while optimizing cost structures and press utilization.
A critical function of this position is managing design and SKU level volume allocation, determining which MDF skin designs and sizes are produced in-house versus sourced domestically or internationally based on cost, availability, and operational efficiency.
Key Responsibilities
Production Scheduling & Execution
· Develop and maintain daily and weekly production schedules across pressing, finishing, and downstream operations.
· Develop Daily and weekly shipping schedules to all Door plant locations
· Develop and maintain forecasting that would be used to forecast purchases of skins both domestically and internationally.
· Sequence production runs by skin design and specifications to maximize press uptime and minimize changeovers
· Align schedules with demand, inventory targets, and plant constraints
Design-Level Volume Allocation (Make vs. Buy)
· Analyze demand by skin design (profile, size, finish) and determine optimal sourcing strategy
· Allocate volumes between:
o In-house production (core, high-volume, press-efficient designs)
o Domestic suppliers (flex capacity, shorter lead times)
o International suppliers (cost advantage, base-load support)
· Continuously adjust allocation based on:
o Press capacity and up-time requirements
o Vendor pricing and total land cost
o Lead times and supply reliability
o Inventory levels and turns
· Capacity & Throughput Optimization
o Balance production mix to keep presses running at optimal utilization
o Shift production away from low-efficiency or high-changeover designs when external supply is more effective
o Reduce downtime by stabilizing product mix and run lengths
Material & Inventory Alignment
· Ensure raw materials (fiber, resin, additives) align with production schedules
· Manage stocking levels at the door plants to ensure optimal stocking.
· Monitor WIP and finished goods by design to prevent shortages or excess
· Support inventory optimization while maintaining service levels
Cross-Functional Coordination
· Partner with Purchasing, Sales, Operations, Maintenance and Logistics to align sourcing and production decisions
· Communicate changes in allocation strategy and production schedule proactively
· Adjust plans based on downtime, quality issues, or demand shifts
· Monitor scrap reports from door plants to identify root causes and corrective actions.