Position Overview:
The Senior Planner/Scheduler is responsible for overseeing production planning and scheduling processes to ensure optimal resource utilization and timely product deliveries. This role involves close collaboration with various teams, including production, engineering, procurement, and quality control, to align production schedules with customer needs and company objectives. Experience in a low volume, high mix manufacturing environment is highly preferred.
Key Responsibilities:
Production Planning:
- Develop, monitor, and adjust production schedules to meet customer deadlines.
- Analyze production data, capacity, and resource availability to improve workflow efficiency.
- Identify and resolve scheduling conflicts proactively.
Material Management:
- Collaborate with procurement to ensure timely availability of materials and components.
- Monitor and manage inventory to prevent shortages or overstocking.
- Establish and maintain reporting systems to track delivery timelines and cost status.
- Supervise inventory control functions, including receiving, storage, and kitting.
- Address and report any discrepancies in inventory, making necessary adjustments.
Cross-Functional Coordination:
- Work with engineering and quality teams to incorporate new designs or manage product modifications.
- Coordinate with engineering services to release documents for procurement and manufacturing.
- Collaborate with sales and customer service teams to provide updates on lead times and deliveries.
Process Improvement:
- Identify inefficiencies within the planning and scheduling processes and recommend improvements.
- Implement tools and software solutions to streamline scheduling operations.
- Provide analysis and recommendations to improve quality, cost, and capacity management.
Reporting and Documentation:
- Maintain accurate production and scheduling records.
- Generate performance reports, including metrics on on-time delivery and production efficiency.
Qualifications and Experience:
Required:
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field.
- 3-5 years of experience in production planning and scheduling, ideally within a manufacturing environment.
- Strong knowledge of ERP/MRP systems, with experience using Epicor a plus.
- Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.
- Strong communication skills to effectively engage with diverse teams and stakeholders.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
- APICS certification (CPIM or CSCP) is a plus.
Required Skills and Competencies:
- Strong communication skills for interacting with customers, supervisors, and employees.
- Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build respectful relationships with people at all levels (customers, employees, vendors).
- Superior time management and organizational skills.
- Strong leadership capabilities.
- Ability to motivate team members as needed.
- High flexibility with the ability to multitask efficiently.
- Ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Strong reasoning and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to act as a liaison between customers, employees, supervisors, and vendors.
- A foundational understanding of supply chain processes.
