Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for Production Scheduler
A Production Scheduler is responsible for creating and maintaining production schedules. They work closely with production and shipping teams to ensure all orders are scheduled in a timely manner. In this blog post we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Production Schedulers.
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Main Responsibilities of Production Scheduler
The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Production Scheduler:
Adhere to
Adhere to all company policies, procedures and regulations.
Adjust
Adjust planned production schedules as necessary in order to assure items ship in a timely manner.
Analyze
Analyze data to assess operational or project effectiveness.
Analyze finished goods and semi-fin inventory to minimize excess inventory or obsolescence.
Assign
Assign tasks to direct staff.
Assist in / Assist with
Assist Customer Service team in determining priorities for production and delivery.
Assist in getting information necessary for APR, Audits, from SCM perspective.
Assist in the development of departmental budgets and standards.
Assist Manufacturing Manager with ongoing projects.
Assist Production staff with production tracking and work order closing activities.
Assist the Distribution team in maintenance and optimization of inventory.
Assist with department related investigations related to materials and planning systems.
Assist with IPT related investigations related to materials and planning systems.
Assist with on-time shipments to customer by utilizing the production schedule.
Assure
Assure timely and relevant communications to and from all levels.
Attend
Attend departmental and team meetings focused on equipment, process and training improvement.
Audit
Audit daily production efficiency and productivity, check adherence to schedule.
Build
Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders.
Coach
Coach, develop, and mentor employees in areas of responsibility.
Communicate
Communicate any deficiencies that could adversely impact store operations.
Communicate demand information across a facility so that everyone is aware of volume and metrics.
Communicate needed schedule changes with manufacturing in a timely manner.
Communicate the production schedule to Production Planner, Production, and Site Management.
Communicate the updated planning of operations to all services.
Communicate with customer service regarding SPR run date.
Communicate with purchaser as required on carton requirements and shortages.
Communicate with Supervisors when there are significant variations in product demand.
Compile
Compile Est to Act variance reporting structure that is effectively communicated.
Conduct
Conduct analysis to determine alternative courses of action or recovery on slipages.
Conduct post-shift schedule review with work leaders.
Conduct time studies across departments to aid in in the scheduling of future equipment.
Confer
Confer with department supervisors to determine status of assigned projects.
Contribute to
Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as required.
Coordinate
Coordinate activities with warehouse and production units.
Coordinate all packaging (racks, returnables, etc.) with vendors / customers.
Coordinate and develop production schedules to meet goals.
Coordinate Kanban and material requirements.
Coordinate needed parts from other company departments.
Coordinate orders on shipping schedule once released for production based on ship date from plant.
Coordinate remake items and communicate information to the floor.
Coordinate resources to implement suggestions / ideas of merit.
Coordinate the implementation of engineering and material changes.
Coordinate with Clinical Leadership daily to determine workflow and prioritization of schedule.
Coordinate with Customer Service and Production on any rush customer order.
Coordinate with customers, site supervisors or sales staff regarding confirmation of delivery dates.
Create
Create and maintain a daily production schedule within Sage X3 ERP / MRP system.
Create and maintain capacity requirements plan that supports the master schedule.
Create and maintain production schedules.
Create and maintain Production Schedules using an MRP system to reflect current priorities.
Create and maintain production schedule to meet production goals deadlines and customer needs.
Create and maintain scheduling work instructions.
Create and maintain Work Orders with current production schedule dates and quantities.
Create and processes purchase orders in accordance with documented procurement processes.
Create a process for vacation / PTO approval with production managers.
Create blending and compression schedules.
Create cross project batching and inventory schedules.
Create, investigate, track and complete work orders.
Create production schedules daily and ensures that output is recorded into the correct system.
Define
Define safety stock and reorder points.
Determine
Determine material requirements from production schedules and maintains inventory at planned levels.
Determine the effect of changes to the schedule and recommend work-around solutions.
Develop
Develop and maintain MPS in conjunction with materials, manufacturing and sales.
Develop, evaluate, and present "What if?”.
Develop inventory targets and manage production to achieve targeted inventory levels.
Develop operating strategies, plans, or procedures.
Develop organizational policies or programs.
Document
Document any special instructions for Logistics department.
Draft
Draft and implement SOPs and process instructions as needed.
Drive
Drive best practice planning and supply chain processes, Class A and IBP process.
Ensure
Ensure alignment between demand, Supply, product, Project and NPI to create realistic plans.
Ensure alignment between Demand, Supply, Product, Project and NPI to create realistic plans.
Ensure Class A material arrival time meets the requirements of the build schedule.
Ensure compliance to company health & safety policies and procedures.
Ensure exceptions are identified and managed in a timely manner.
Ensure materials and equipment are pre-arranged for production.
Ensure needed raw materials are ordered and delivered on time to meet manufacturing needs.
Ensure open communication to stakeholders and changes to the schedule.
Ensure pre-shoot needs are on-track for a success shoot.
Ensure proper levels of inventory are being maintained.
Ensure that department Tier visual systems reflect required accurate information as specified.
Ensure that investigations are thoroughly completed on time without impact to customer deliveries.
Ensure that key forums are supported and reporting requirements delivered.
Ensure the data integrity of all planning models and Oracle systems.
Ensure the production schedule balances the facility resources on a daily and weekly basis.
Escalate
Escalate any issues to Master Supply Planner and Planning Lead.
Establish
Establish and adjust safety stock levels for finished goods and raw material inventories.
Establish effective communication with various groups such as customer service.
Establish new product group schedules with requirement of the manufacturing build schedule.
Establish production schedules and monitor outgoing production supply parts.
Estimate
Estimate materials and labour required for production.
Evaluate
Evaluate and develop processes, and procedures.
Expedite
Expedite manufacturing and purchasing components to support the master schedule.
Expedite materials for production as needed to meet deadlines.
Expedite production and purchased parts.
Facilitate
Facilitate continuous improvement activities.
Follow up
Follow up and respond to changing requirements in a timely manner, to satisfy service needs.
Follow up on schedule to ensure targets are being met.
Help
Help monitor inbound orders and ensure all are received and downloaded timely.
Highlight
Highlight any items not shipped on time from previous date.
Identify
Identify opportunities to optimize throughput and reduce process cycle times.
Incorporate
Incorporate employee availability.
Incorporate fabrication and toolpathing updates from Project Engineering.
Incorporate incoming material deliveries where dependencies exist.
Incorporate machine availability.
Incorporate project updates from Project Management.
Initiate
Initiate and participate in the development of procedures to improve the production process.
Initiate work order processes within ERP system in response to demand forecast and MRP suggestions.
Insure
Insure coordination meetings are conducted with various levels of management.
Interact with
Interact daily with engineering, sales, production, purchasing and shipping.
Keep
Keep in mind that you will also be building the reports, so there is that too.
Lead
Lead, coordinate, and support area projects as needed.
Lead meetings as and when required.
Liaise between
Liaise between TV Sales managers and TV Sales broadcast crews.
Locate
Locate and expedite orders to ensure timely completion and shipment.
Maintain
Maintain accurate inventory to support customer demand.
Maintain accurate tracking of outcomes and trends that may impact future planning efforts.
Maintain a clean, sanitary and safe work area.
Maintain and update supply metrics related to department Tier 2.
Maintain and update supply metrics related to IPT Tier 2 (e.g SA, LROT).
Maintain inventory accuracy on all production raw materials.
Maintain inventory level to meet company's goal in regards to inventory turns.
Maintain inventory of materials and parts needed to complete production.
Maintain just-in-time inventory and ensure production schedules are met and waste is minimized.
Maintain the destruct program and issues status reports when appropriate.
Maintain the necessary documentation, SOP, JA, BP related to Scheduling & Buying processes.
Maintain the schedule accuracy of the AMAPS system on a daily basis.
Maintain various reporting systems for ensuring that documentation is accurate and timely.
Make
Make appropriate adjustments to SAP inventory data in a timely manner.
Make recommendations on capital investments.
Manage
Manage and distribute daily, weekly and monthly staff schedules.
Manage and cross-check schedules and resolve conflicts to protect business needs.
Manage MRO and VMI requirements while effectively working with suppliers.
Match
Match production tickets and labels daily by agreed-upon times.
Monitor
Monitor aged WIP, Open balances on POs and Receive / Inspect inventories.
Monitor daily production quantity against plan to ensure that they meet monthly targets.
Monitor demand forecasts and deliver Production Schedule.
Monitor inventory accuracy and implement countermeasures where deficiencies exist.
Monitor production progress.
Monitor production results and understand challenges to manufacturing output.
Negotiate
Negotiate sales or lease agreements for products or services.
Notify
Notify sales staff / customer of shortages, scheduling changes, and other issues.
Optimize
Optimize the plant capacity while minimizing operating costs.
Oversee
Oversee maintenance of monthly item master and inventory exception messages.
Oversee regional planning of designated product line including.
Own
Own the coordination of resources and equipment for several processing areas.
Participate in
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives or special projects.
Participate in development of profit plan and asset utilizations.
Participate in internal and external audits and inspections.
Participate in safety initiatives and safety investigations.
Perform
Perform ad-hoc analysis as needed.
Perform all other duties as requested.
Perform any other duties assigned by Management.
Perform Capacity planning reviews and analysis.
Perform daily production entries into Oracle and other local databases.
Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
Perform other duties as may be required.
Plan
Plan and control the capacity needs and maintain priorities.
Plan, prepare, maintain, and report on the performance of production attainment and productivity.
Prepare
Prepare a Daily Production Schedule.
Prepare and maintain progress and other reports.
Prepare and present product review slides at monthly GSOP meeting to upper levels of management.
Prepare and releases the production schedule to the shop floor in a timely manner.
Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets.
Print, collect and process job sheets.
Process
Process ECN and MPS changes in the MRP system.
Promote
Promote a smooth communication flow between departments to help prevent obstacles.
Provide
Provide backup support for plant non-production hardware and software systems.
Provide input into development of capital plans.
Provide monthly usage reports to managers.
Provide purchasing support to shipping / receiving on all vendor supply issues.
Provide quick responses and clear on changes and issues to internal partners.
Provide tactical volume, raw material requirements, and capacity analysis as needed.
Recommend
Recommend improvement plans to address scheduling delays.
Represent
Represent Supply Chain Manager at various forums as required.
Resolve
Resolve problems in relation to plant inventory accuracy.
Resolve scheduling problems by collecting and analyzing information and coordinating solutions.
Respond to
Respond to internal inquiries from Customer Service, Sales, and manufacturing plant personnel.
Review
Review and manages stock levels on parts.
Review and or initiates all personnel and organizational changes for the respective shift.
Review equipment, batch cycles and timing.
Review master data set-up and monitor to ensure alignment in production processes. (.
Review status and recommends use or disposition of aged, slow moving, or obsolete materials.
Run
Run Daily Plan and other standardized tools to assist the value stream leadership.
Run daily shortage report and ensure that products are on the production schedule.
Satisfy
Satisfy MRO requisitions from all departments and maintain PO database / AS400.
Schedule
Schedule production parts.
Set
Set daily, weekly and monthly schedules.
Share
Share information and updates in a timely and proactive manner.
Strive
Strive to achieve the best possible metrics for QDCI.
Take
Take initiative to minimize overall system obsolescence exposure.
Take stock of inventory levels to make sure production is kept running.
Track
Track finished products order fulfillment on time in full.
Track the flow of materials through the assigned areas.
Understand
Understand how to document production goals and deviations from these goals on a regular basis.
Understand product lines, identifies constraints and seeks effective solutions.
Use
Use planning system inputs to set priorities for plant production.
Use resources in the most optimized manner.
Use the ERP planning system to distribute finished goods to next level distribution centres.
Utilize
Utilize Oracle to view material movement.
Validate
Validate and approve weekly time for hourly employees.
Work with
Work closely with Manufacturing to ensure the current status is updated daily.
Work on multiple projects at the same time.
Work with Customer Care processing customer order request.
Work with designers to ensure the new product builds are on track to meet significant milestones.
Work with management to schedule new employee and cross-employee training.
Work with planning operations team to ensure accuracy of functional master data.
Work with Procurement to ensure that supply needs are met.Work with purchasing staff on material constraint.
Work with Shipping on storage of excess inventory.
Work with Value stream purchaser and review at appropriate frequencies.
Most In-demand Hard Skills
The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Production Scheduler:
Manufacturing
Logistics
MRP
Business
Manufacturing Environment
Most In-demand Soft Skills
The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Production Scheduler:
Written and oral communication skills
Problem-solving attitude
Organizational capacity
Attention to detail
Analytical ability
Interpersonal skills
Leadership
Flexible
Communicate effectively and demonstrate root cause analysis
Detail-oriented
Initiative
Multi-task
Team player
Work under pressure
Planning
Time-management
