Operations Optimization & Production Schedule

United Mail, LLC•Cincinnati, OH

5d•$70,000 - $80,000•Onsite

About The Position

United Direct Solutions is seeking an Operations Optimization & Production Planning Analyst for an in-person role. This position is responsible for managing the master production schedule for print and direct mail operations across two production sites. The analyst will leverage operational data to improve efficiency, forecasting, and decision-making by mining and analyzing data from Midnight and related systems. The goal is to provide visibility into production performance, labor utilization, and job costing, ultimately supporting operations leadership in enhancing scheduling accuracy, pricing alignment, productivity, and overall production planning.

Requirements

Strong understanding of production planning and scheduling principles, including master scheduling, capacity planning, and workflow optimization.
Proficiency with operational systems and production data tools, such as Midnight or similar MIS/ERP systems.
Strong data analysis skills, including the ability to extract, manipulate, and interpret large data sets.
Ability to translate data into actionable insights to support operational decision-making, productivity improvements, and job costing accuracy.
Excellent mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including forecasting, variance analysis, and trend evaluation.
Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively collaborate with operations leadership, scheduling teams, and cross-functional departments.
Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks, manage competing demands, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced production environment.
Ability to work across multiple sites, occasionally visiting production floors to validate schedules and operational assumptions.
Detail-oriented, organized, and proactive with a results-driven mindset.
Ability to adapt to changing priorities and provide solutions in a dynamic operational environment.
Proficiency in leveraging AI and advanced analytics tools to optimize production scheduling, improve forecasting accuracy, enhance operational efficiency, and support data-driven decision-making in operations and production planning.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of print and direct mail production processes preferred.
Experience in continuous improvement initiatives or process optimization projects is a plus.
Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business Analytics, Data Analytics, Supply Chain Management, or a related field preferred.
Equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience may be considered.
Experience with master scheduling, capacity planning, and job costing is highly desirable.
Proficiency in using operational systems and data analytics tools (e.g., Midnight, Excel, BI platforms) to drive process improvements is preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop, maintain, and optimize the master production schedule for print and direct mail operations across both facilities.
Analyze production volumes, trends, and historical data to forecast growth, plan for new business, and anticipate capacity constraints.
Assist with capacity planning, scheduling visibility, and resource allocation across both facilities.
Support high-level scheduling across sites, ensuring workload balance and on-time delivery.
Identify bottlenecks, machine loading issues, and opportunities for operational improvements.
Collaborate with operations teams to optimize daily and long-term production planning.
Collaborate with estimating and operations teams to enhance pricing models, job costing accuracy, and profitability analysis.
Support the development and implementation of AI-assisted or data-informed scheduling tools to improve accuracy and operational efficiency.
Extract, analyze, and interpret operational data from Midnight and other relevant systems.
Monitor metrics including customer sheet counts, record counts, monthly production trends, run data, machine utilization, and productivity by job, operator, and department.
Build and maintain internal dashboards and reporting tools to provide leadership with real-time visibility into production volume trends, productivity metrics, capacity utilization, labor efficiency, and overtime patterns.
Integrate data from multiple systems (e.g., Midnight, Quadient, postage/meter systems, and financial systems in collaboration with accounting) to provide comprehensive operational insights.
Partner with operations leadership to identify opportunities for process improvements and best practice implementation.
Evaluate the effectiveness of production processes, recommending changes to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve throughput.
Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies, including AI, automation, and analytics tools, to enhance production planning and optimization capabilities.
Identify trends, inefficiencies, and opportunities to improve productivity, reduce waste, and optimize workflow.
Support continuous improvement initiatives across departments by providing data-driven recommendations.