What are the responsibilities and job description for the Production Planner/Scheduler position at THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY CO LLC?
Summary:
The Production Planner/Scheduler is responsible for planning, scheduling, and coordinating daily and weekly production activities in a high-volume, sku intensive consumer goods manufacturing environment. This role ensures efficient use of labor, materials, and equipment while meeting product demand, quality standards, and delivery deadlines.
Description:
Production Planning & Scheduling
- Develop and maintain daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules
- Balance production capacity with customer orders and forecasted demand
- Sequence jobs to maximize throughput and minimize changeovers and downtime
- Adjust schedules in real time based on labor availability, equipment issues, or material shortages
Coordination & Communication
- Work closely with packaging supervisors, line leads, and operators to execute schedules
- Coordinate with purchasing and inventory teams to ensure component and raw material availability
- Communicate schedule changes clearly to all affected departments
- Participate in daily production meetings and shift handoffs
Inventory & Materials Management
- Monitor raw material, components, and finished goods inventory levels
- Ensure materials are staged and available to support scheduled production
- Help prevent stockouts and excess inventory
- Establish
esappropriate safety stock in coordination with the sales team
Performance Tracking & Reporting
- Track production output, schedule adherence, and downtime
- Identify bottlenecks and recommend improvements for flow and efficiency maximization
- Maintain accurate production records and reports
Continuous Improvement & Compliance
- Support lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives
- Ensure scheduling supports quality, safety, and regulatory requirements
- Assist with capacity planning for new products or increased volume
Qualifications
Required
- Associates degree and 3 years of experience in manufacturing or related field. Bachelor’s degree preferred.
- 1–3 years of experience in production planning, scheduling, or manufacturing operations
- Strong organizational and time-management skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment
- Proficiency with spreadsheets (Excel or similar) and basic production systems
Preferred
- Experience in packaging, food, consumer goods, or light manufacturing
- Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems
- Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement exposure
Skills & Competencies
- Strong attention to detail
- Problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Clear verbal and written communication
- Ability to prioritize and adapt to changing demands
- Team-oriented with a hands-on mindset
Work Environment
- Manufacturing/packaging plant setting
- May require standing, walking, and floor presence
- Occasional overtime based on production needs
KPI Scorecard
Schedule & Delivery (40%)
KPI | Target | Actual | Status |
Schedule Adherence | ≥ 95% | ||
On-Time Order Completion | ≥ 98% | ||
Units Produced vs Plan | ≥ 100% | ||
Unplanned Schedule Changes | ≤ 5% / week |
Throughput & Efficiency (25%)
KPI | Target | Actual | Status |
Line Utilization | 85–90% | ||
Changeover Time | ↓ QoQ improvement | ||
Schedule-Driven Downtime | ↓ YoY improvement |
Inventory & Materials (20%)
KPI | Target | Actual | Status |
Material Availability Rate | ≥ 99% | ||
Material-Related Delays | 0 preventable | ||
Inventory Accuracy | ≥ 98% |
Labor & Cost Control (10%)
KPI | Target | Actual | Status |
Labor Hours vs Plan | 95–105% | ||
Overtime % | ≤ plant target |
Quality & Communication (5%)
KPI | Target | Actual | Status |
Scheduling-Related Scrap/Rework | 0 | ||
Late-Order Customer Complaints | 0 | ||
Schedule Issued On Time | 100% |