JOB TITLE: Master Planner/Scheduler
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY: The Sr. Planner/Scheduler owns production planning and schedule execution at Future Form Manufacturing. As the senior individual contributor responsible for planning, this role translates customer demand and forecasts into a capacity-balanced, executable Master Production Schedule (MPS) across all active programs. In Future Form's high-mix contract manufacturing environment, the position combines strategic scheduling with hands-on production planning, including work order creation, release, and management, providing a single point of accountability for production scheduling.
The role balances customer demand against shop capacity and material availability, performs capacity and load planning, and proactively adjusts schedules to accommodate changing priorities. The Sr. Planner/Scheduler also prepares and maintains the supply, capacity, and production load data that supports the company's Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process and serves as the planning lead for Future Form's ERP transition from OmegaCube to NetSuite.
CORE VALUES: The following list of Core Values and Behaviors are necessary to meet the minimum requirements:
TEAMWORK
- Help each other succeed
- Communicate clearly and directly, listen well
- Encourage teammates
- Blameless problem solving
HONESTY AND INTEGRITY
- Honor your commitments
- Do the right thing
- Consistent in your attitudes and actions
LEAN
- Improve processes
- Open to new ideas
- Share information, and teach
- Expose issues
NUMBERS FOCUSED
- Deliver results
- Analyze data for improvement
- Take ownership and accountability
- Work smarter, not harder
EXCELLENCE
- Exhibit passion in serving customers
- Contribute solutions
- Sense of urgency
- Be the best at what you do
- Seek knowledge
FUN
- Be positive
- Celebrate achievements
- Don’t take yourself too seriously
CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES:
Essential
- Own and maintain the Master Production Schedule (MPS) across all active programs, translating confirmed orders and forecast into a single capacity-balanced, executable plan.
- Own capacity analysis and load planning for the plant: model production load against available capacity, run rough-cut capacity checks, level load across work centers, and identify bottlenecks and constraints before they impact the schedule.
- Create, release, and manage work orders across active production programs; own work order lifecycle and data integrity to put the schedule into motion and support on-time delivery.
- Drive schedule prioritization and sequencing, proactively adjusting plans as requirements, engineering changes, or material availability shift, and communicate impacts to stakeholders.
- Verify material availability against the schedule in coordination with Material Planning and Purchasing; identify shortages, quantify risk, and drive resolution before jobs are released.
- Prepare and maintain the supply, capacity, and load view that feeds the S&OP process; build the scenarios and analysis that inform S&OP decisions and support the Planning Manager in running the cycle.
- Serve as the planning lead on the NetSuite implementation: support configuration of planning and MRP functionality, own planning data migration and validation, define and test planning parameters, and drive cutover readiness for the Planning function.
- Set and govern planning parameters across the ERP system, including item lead times, safety stock levels, and lot sizing; maintain their accuracy and review them for continuous improvement.
- Develop and maintain scheduling tools, models, and dashboards (load and capacity views, backlog analysis, schedule attainment reporting) that improve visibility and reduce reactive planning.
- Maintain real-time awareness of shop floor status; know where each active job stands, what is at risk, and what needs intervention, with focus on the highest-priority and most complex programs.
- Coordinate with Engineering on drawing releases, engineering changes, and new product introductions to ensure the schedule reflects current design status.
- Collaborate with Quality to understand hold status, inspection queues, and non-conformance disposition timelines that affect schedule execution.
- Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior planning staff (such as the Material Planner); help set planning standards and develop the team's capability.
- Participate in and represent scheduling at daily production meetings and tiered daily management; communicate schedule status, capacity constraints, active risks, and priorities clearly to Operations and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Track, report, and own key scheduling metrics including schedule attainment, on-time work order completion, and capacity utilization; use the data to drive corrective action.
- Identify and lead process improvements that reduce reactive planning and increase schedule predictability.
- Deputize for the Planning Manager on scheduling decisions and stakeholder communication as needed.
- Optimize internal systems and assist in their integration with goals and objectives.
- Maintain organized workspaces and digital records in accordance with company policy.
- All other duties as assigned.
REPORTS TO: Planning Manager
WORKS WITH: Material Planner, Suppliers, Customers, Future Form Team Members
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS OF POSITION:
Follow all OSHA safety regulations and those set by Future Form Manufacturing
REQUIREMENTS OF POSITION:
Essential
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or related field (or equivalent work experience)
- 5+ years of experience in production planning, scheduling, or master scheduling within a manufacturing environment, including hands-on ownership of a production schedule or master schedule
- Demonstrated experience owning and maintaining a Master Production Schedule (MPS), including capacity planning and load leveling
- Hands-on experience with work order creation, release, and management in an ERP / MRP system
- Strong hands-on experience with ERP / MRP systems; proven ability to learn new systems quickly and configure or validate planning functionality (OmegaCube experience a plus; NetSuite experience preferred)
- Deep understanding of master scheduling, capacity planning, work order management, and shop floor scheduling in a high-mix environment
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including the ability to build and maintain scheduling models, dashboards, and reporting
- Ability to move between forward-looking scheduling and real-time execution, make sound trade-off decisions with limited direction, and adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment
- Strong cross-functional communication and influence; comfortable driving alignment daily with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain
- Detail-oriented, process-driven, and highly organized
Beneficial
- 7+ years of scheduling experience, with prior title of Master Scheduler, Master Production Scheduler, or Senior Planner
- Experience leading or serving as a functional lead on an ERP implementation or system transition
- Experience supporting a Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process
- Experience mentoring or providing technical guidance to planning or scheduling staff
- APICS / ASCM certification (CPIM or CSCP) strongly preferred
- Experience in a custom, job shop, or contract manufacturing environment
- Knowledge of Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement methodologies
- Track record of improving schedule accuracy, attainment, or capacity utilization
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF POSITION:
Sit 65%, Stand 15%, Walk 15%, and Bend 5%. Maximum (minutes): Sit 240, Stand 15, Walk 10, and Bend 5. Must have normal vision (with or without corrective lenses) and normal hearing (with or without hearing aid enhancement
Must be able to lift 30 pounds on a regular basis. Must have normal vision (with or without corrective lenses) and hearing (with or without corrective hearing aids).
Working Environment: Office desk with frequent time in a shop environment. Moderate noise level. Exposure to dust, heat and cold.
This position will require drug testing per company policy.