Production Scheduler

Aston Carter • Manitowoc, WI

11d • $34 - $38 • Onsite

About The Position

The Production Scheduler develops, coordinates, and optimizes manufacturing schedules to meet customer demand, maximize capacity utilization, and support operational efficiency. The role translates forecasts, orders, and inventory objectives into executable production plans while working closely with cross-functional teams and improving scheduling processes and tools.

The position schedules production across multiple manufacturing areas, taking into account capacity, labor, equipment, materials, inventory, and business priorities. It responds to interruptions and changing conditions, communicates priorities and risks, and works with internal partners to align production plans with material availability and delivery requirements.

The scheduler also supports capacity planning, inventory optimization, Lean and continuous improvement efforts, and the development of scalable scheduling processes, tools, documentation, and standard work. This is a fully onsite, contract-to-hire position in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, supporting first-shift operations Monday through Friday. Typical hours are 6:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. or 7:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., with some flexibility depending on production needs.

Requirements

• Three or more years of experience in production scheduling, production planning, materials coordination, supply chain planning, manufacturing operations, or a closely related field is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supporting a manufacturing or production environment.
• Experience creating or maintaining production schedules based on capacity, materials, equipment, labor, and operational priorities.
• Experience using ERP or MRP systems for production planning and scheduling.
• Experience coordinating across Operations, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Materials, Logistics, or related departments.
• Understanding of production scheduling, production sequencing, manufacturing workflows, and material movement.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including spreadsheets, reporting, data analysis, and pivot tables.
• Ability to manage scheduling and planning processes to support schedule adherence and on-time delivery.
• Knowledge of inventory and material management principles as they relate to production planning.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills for working with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to identify and address capacity constraints, bottlenecks, and production risks.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field; relevant professional experience may be considered in place of a degree.
• APICS CPIM, CSCP, or comparable supply chain or operations certification.
• Exposure to capacity planning, inventory optimization, Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP), or operational improvement initiatives.
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP systems for planning and scheduling.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including advanced Excel reporting and analysis.
• Experience in manufacturing industries with transferable production planning, materials flow, and scheduling experience.
• Familiarity with Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ability to interpret production data and performance trends to support decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain daily, weekly, and longer-range production schedules based on demand, capacity, material availability, inventory requirements, and business priorities.
• Translate forecasts, customer orders, inventory objectives, and operational requirements into executable manufacturing schedules that support on-time delivery and schedule adherence.
• Sequence production activities to maintain efficient work and material flow, improve throughput, and reduce unnecessary changeovers.
• Schedule production across production lines, grid-line operations, plating operations, and evaporator manufacturing.
• Evaluate work-center capabilities, production requirements, labor availability, equipment constraints, and material readiness when creating schedules.
• Adjust schedules in response to production interruptions, material shortages, staffing changes, equipment limitations, and shifting priorities.
• Communicate schedule changes, priorities, and risks to supervisors and affected departments, and facilitate regular scheduling discussions.
• Review labor, equipment, tooling, capacity, and production requirements to ensure schedules are realistic and executable.
• Identify bottlenecks, capacity constraints, resource limitations, and production risks; work with production leadership to assess alternatives and recommend effective resource use.
• Support longer-range capacity planning and growth initiatives by evaluating production scenarios and explaining potential operational impacts.
• Partner with Supply Chain, Materials Planning, Purchasing, and production leadership to confirm materials are available before work is released to production.
• Monitor material movement and flow, identify shortages and supply constraints, develop mitigation and recovery plans, and align scheduling priorities with physical material availability.
• Balance inventory availability and production requirements, including monitoring potential excess, obsolete, or slow-moving inventory affected by scheduling decisions.
• Serve as a primary scheduling contact for Operations, Supply Chain, Materials, Purchasing, Logistics, Customer Service, Engineering, and other internal departments.
• Build working relationships with production supervisors and employees across shifts while maintaining accountability for scheduling decisions.
• Provide recommendations when production demands, material considerations, or operational priorities conflict, and communicate significant risks to production, inventory, and delivery performance.
• Participate in production planning, operational review, demand review, and continuous improvement discussions; provide timely and accurate production status and scheduling information.
• Help establish and refine the production scheduling function by improving practices and developing structured processes, tools, documentation, and standard work.
• Monitor schedule performance, recommend corrective actions when plans are not achieved, and participate in root-cause analysis and cross-functional problem-solving.
• Support Lean manufacturing and operational excellence initiatives and collaborate with operations and continuous improvement leadership to streamline production flow.
• Improve use of ERP or MRP systems, scheduling tools, and production data to strengthen planning accuracy, responsiveness, and manufacturing performance.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan, with pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Voluntary Life and AD&D insurance for employees and dependents
• Short- and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time off/leave, including PTO, vacation, or sick leave, depending on eligibility and applicable terms

What This Job Offers

• Education Level: No Education Listed