Master Production Scheduler

A day in the life

You orchestrate the plan that keeps our factory humming. As the Master Production Scheduler, you convert demand signals into a realistic Master Production Schedule (MPS), balancing capacity, labor, equipment, materials, inventory, and customer due dates. You guide the Planning and Production Control team, connect Sales, Operations, Purchasing, Engineering, Quality, Warehouse, and Supply Chain, and ensure schedules align with business goals.

What you'll own

Master production planning

• Build and maintain an achievable MPS from customer orders, forecasts, inventory positions, capacity, and business priorities.
• Translate demand into executable plans that meet customer promises.
• Continuously balance plant capacity, labor availability, equipment constraints, material readiness, and due dates.
• Set production sequencing and priorities to maximize throughput, reduce delays and overtime, and limit unnecessary changeovers.
• Adjust plans as conditions shift—changing demand, shortages, downtime, and constraints.
• Maintain inventory levels that support on-time delivery while minimizing excess and obsolescence.

Production control

• Monitor day-to-day performance against the MPS and the production plan.
• Flag schedule risks early and communicate impacts to leaders and partners.
• Lead recovery plans for missed schedules, material gaps, capacity constraints, and disruptions.
• Align with Production Supervisors to ensure schedules are realistic and executable.
• Track work orders, build status, shortages, and past-due requirements.
• Ensure production orders are prioritized, released, and maintained accurately in the ERP/MRP system.

Materials and inventory

• Partner with Purchasing and Materials Management to secure raw materials, components, and outside services on time.
• Identify material constraints that could affect schedules and customer commitments.
• Review safety stocks, lead times, replenishment parameters, and inventory health.
• Support reduction of excess inventory, shortages, expedites, and discrepancies.
• Escalate critical supply risks and create viable alternatives when needed.

Capacity planning

• Run short-, medium-, and long-range capacity analyses.
• Spot bottlenecks, resource constraints, and future capacity needs.
• Collaborate with Operations on overtime, shift patterns, outsourcing, equipment utilization, and staffing models.
• Provide capacity and demand insights to support capital planning and operational decisions.

Cross-functional coordination

• Work closely with Sales/Customer Service to understand priorities and delivery requirements.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Purchasing, Warehouse, and Supply Chain to resolve planning and execution issues.
• Participate in S&OP/IBP and other demand/capacity forums.
• Communicate priority changes and customer requirements clearly and promptly.
• Provide management with accurate updates on capacity, schedule attainment, risks, and delivery performance.

Lead the team

• Coach and develop Production Planners and Production Control Associates.
• Set clear goals, priorities, roles, and performance expectations.
• Balance workload across the team and allocate resources smartly.
• Standardize planning processes, procedures, and work instructions.
• Deliver training and mentorship in MRP/ERP, scheduling, capacity planning, and production control.
• Champion accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement, and data-driven decisions.

How success is measured

• On-Time Delivery (OTD)
• Schedule Adherence
• Production Schedule Attainment
• Customer Backlog / Past-Due Orders
• Inventory Turns
• Inventory Accuracy
• Material Availability
• Capacity Utilization
• Production Lead Time
• Expedite Frequency
• Planner/Production Control Team Performance

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business, Industrial Engineering, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years in production planning, master scheduling, production control, or supply chain within manufacturing.
• Experience leading or supervising planners, schedulers, or production control staff.
• Deep knowledge of MRP/ERP and end-to-end production planning processes.
• Hands-on ownership of a Master Production Schedule.
• Expertise in capacity planning, inventory management, MRP, and scheduling methods.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred qualifications

• APICS/ASCM credentials such as CPIM or CSCP.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement.
• Familiarity with S&OP/IBP processes.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with planning/reporting dashboards.
• Experience with Infor (Syteline).
• Manufacturing background in automotive and aerospace.

Leadership competencies

• Strategic and analytical thinking
• Sound decision-making and prioritization
• Team leadership and talent development
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Accountability and ownership
• Problem solving and root-cause analysis
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Strong communication and escalation
• Ability to thrive under changing priorities

Working conditions

• Primarily office/planning environment with regular interaction with manufacturing operations.
• Frequent interaction with production floor personnel and cross-functional teams.
• Occasional overtime or schedule flexibility to support critical production and customer needs.

Objective

Ensure a realistic, controlled, and achievable production plan while leading the Planning and Production Control team to deliver on-time, optimize inventory and capacity, and adapt quickly to changing business needs.