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
Establishes appropriate safety stock in coordination with the sales team
Performance Tracking & Reporting
Track production output, schedule adherence, and downtime
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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%
