Scheduling/Production Planner

The Scheduling / Production Planner is responsible for developing and maintaining production schedules that support customer demand while optimizing plant efficiency, inventory levels, and material flow. This role serves as the coordination point between Sales, Operations, Procurement, and Shipping to ensure production plans are achievable and aligned with capacity. The Production Planner plays a critical role in maintaining on-time delivery performance and supporting continuous improvement initiatives in a union manufacturing environment.

The ideal candidate will possess strong production planning and scheduling experience within a manufacturing environment, with the ability to balance customer demand, plant capacity, and material availability. This role requires strong analytical and problem-solving skills, proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Excel, and a solid understanding of manufacturing workflows and inventory management. Success in this role depends on effective cross-functional collaboration with Operations, Procurement, Quality, Finance, Engineering, and EHS, along with clear communication, adaptability, and strong organizational skills. Experience in metals or packaging manufacturing, familiarity with ISO systems, and comfort working in a union facility are strongly preferred.

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner

Creativity – Ability to deviate from standardized work and establish new process and procedures

Customer Service - Responds promptly to customer needs and requests, solicits feedback, and meets commitments

Organization - Prioritizes and uses time efficiently, requiring limited supervision.

Quality - Demonstrates accuracy through thoroughness and strong attention to detail.

Quantity - Meets productivity standards and completes work in a timely manner.

Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands, and is able to work with unexpected delays or events

Dependability – Consistently at work and on time, responds to management instructions, and solicits feedback to improve performance

Safety and Security – Complies with all Corporate Safety and Security procedures

Team Player – Ability to apply teamwork and positive leadership qualities to promote a collaborative work environment

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and maintain daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules for lithography and can-making operations.
• Balance customer demand, equipment capacity, labor availability, and material constraints.
• Communicate schedule priorities and changes clearly to Operations and cross-functional teams.
• Monitor schedule adherence and adjust plans as needed to address downtime, material shortages, or demand changes.
• Collaborate with Sales and Customer Service to forecast demand and support order fulfillment.
• Partner with Procurement to ensure raw materials and components are available to support production plans.
• Monitor inventory levels and work to minimize excess inventory while preventing shortages.
• Track KPIs such as schedule attainment, on-time delivery, inventory turns, and production efficiency.
• Support root cause analysis for missed schedules or delivery issues.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on throughput, lead time reduction, and material flow.
• Maintain accurate data within ERP/MRP systems.
• Support production meetings and communicate schedule expectations.
• Work closely with Production Supervisors and Engineering to optimize workflow and capacity utilization.
• Partner with Operations, Procurement, Quality, Finance, Engineering, and EHS to align production plans with business objectives.
• Support new product introductions and production transitions as needed.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business, or related field, or equivalent experience 3 years of production planning or scheduling experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (forecasting, reporting, pivot tables).

PREFERRED

• Experience in metals, packaging, or high-speed manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with ISO systems and continuous improvement methodologies (Lean / Six Sigma).
• Experience working in a union manufacturing environment.