Production Scheduler

DescriptionJob Title: Production Scheduler

Reports to: SOP Planner

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Summary

The Production Scheduler is responsible for developing and maintaining production schedules that align customer demand, inventory targets, production capacity, and material availability. This role works closely with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Procurement, Customer Service, and Operations to support efficient production execution and on-time delivery.

The Production Scheduler monitors production progress, identifies scheduling constraints, communicates changes and priorities, and adjusts schedules in response to equipment downtime, labor constraints, supply shortages, and changing customer requirements. The ideal candidate is analytical, organized, proactive, and able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

The following are essential job duties. Additional responsibilities may be assigned based on business needs.

Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance is required to effectively perform the responsibilities of this role.

Production Planning & Scheduling

Create and maintain daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules.

Balance customer demand with manufacturing capacity, inventory requirements, and material availability.

Design, implement, and continuously improve production scheduling processes to increase efficiency, schedule stability, and on-time delivery.

Identify production bottlenecks and develop standardized scheduling practices that optimize capacity utilization, reduce downtime, and improve workflow across manufacturing operations.

Monitor production progress and adjust schedules to address delays, equipment downtime, labor constraints, supply shortages, and changing priorities.

Materials, Inventory & Capacity Coordination

Coordinate with Procurement to ensure raw materials and packaging components are available for scheduled production.

Support inventory management by maintaining appropriate stock levels while minimizing excess and obsolete inventory.

Evaluate capacity, labor, equipment, and material constraints when establishing production priorities.

Collaborate with production supervisors, planners, warehouse personnel, and other cross-functional partners to optimize workflow and resource utilization.

Schedule Monitoring, Communication & Reporting

Analyze production performance, schedule adherence, throughput, and capacity utilization.

Communicate schedule changes, priorities, risks, and potential delays to Operations and other cross-functional teams.

Generate and maintain reports and performance metrics related to production schedules, on-time delivery, capacity, and manufacturing performance.

Participate in continuous improvement initiatives designed to enhance production planning and scheduling processes.

Attend and participate in meetings as needed.

Required Qualifications

Two to five years of experience in production planning, scheduling, manufacturing, or supply chain operations.

Experience using ERP or MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, or Plex.

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond effectively to changing production requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.

APICS/ASCM certification, such as CPIM or CSCP, preferred.

Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement principles.

Understanding of production capacity planning and inventory management.

Experience with demand planning and Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) processes.

Familiarity with data analysis and reporting tools such as Power BI or Tableau.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Schedule adherence

On-time delivery performance

Production throughput

Inventory accuracy

Capacity utilization

Customer service level

Production efficiency