Planner OME

Job Title: Scheduler

Department: Production

Reports to: Plant Manager

Location: Langhorne, PA

Position Summary:

The Scheduler is responsible for translating the plant's order book into a daily production schedule that maximizes corrugator utilization, minimizes setup churn, and delivers on customer commit dates. This role sits at the intersection of customer demand, corrugator capacity, and converting line availability - and the decisions made here directly determine whether the plant runs efficiently or reactively.

ND PKG operates a 110" BHC corrugator with full converting lines. Corrugator scheduling is the highest-leverage scheduling function in the plant: run sequence, board combination efficiency, and setup frequency have a direct impact on utilization, waste, and on-time delivery. The Scheduler reports directly to the Plant Manager and coordinates daily with Customer Service, Production, and Shipping.

Compensation:

The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate will be based on multiple factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge/skills, experience, geographical location, and internal equity. At ND Paper, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the high end of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.

About Us

ND Paper is a leading manufacturer of high-quality pulp, paper, and packaging products in the United States, generating over half a billion dollars in annual sales. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited - the largest containerboard producer in the world - ND Paper is part of a global network committed to excellence and innovation. With two integrated pulp and paper mills in Rumford, Maine and Biron, Wisconsin, a packaging plant in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, and two sheeting facilities in Langhorne, Pennsylvania and Fairmont, West Virginia, the ND Paper family produces nearly one million tons of products annually. Our 1,100 dedicated employees are the heart of our operations, and we are committed to fostering positive work environments where individuals can advance and thrive. At ND Paper, we are investing in our future, and that starts with our staff.

Key Responsibilities & Expected Results

Corrugator Scheduling

• Build and release the daily corrugator schedule with sufficient lead time for the shift supervisor to prepare - target release before shift startup
• Sequence corrugator orders to maximize run length, minimize setup count, and optimize board combinations across flute profile, liner, and medium changes
• Manage corrugator capacity against order demand - flag capacity constraints to the General Manager before they become delivery misses
• Balance short-run and long-run orders across the week to prevent setup fragmentation on any single shift
• Adjust schedule in real time when corrugator downtime, quality holds, or order changes disrupt the plan - communicate changes immediately to Production and Customer Service
• Coordinate reworks into the production schedule

Converting Schedule

• Schedule converting lines (flexo folder gluers, die cutters, stitcher, bundler, bander) in coordination with corrugator output and converting line capacity
• Sequence converting orders to minimize changeover time and maintain flow from corrugator to finished goods
• Ensure converting schedule aligns with customer ship dates and Shipping's daily load plan
• Coordinate with Production supervisors on converting line availability, downtime, and priority changes
• Coordinate reworks into the production schedule

Order Management & Customer Commit Dates

• Own the commit date for every order in the system - if a date is at risk, the Scheduler identifies it first and escalates proactively
• Coordinate daily with Customer Service on new orders, expedites, and customer-driven date changes
• Provide Customer Service with realistic lead times for new orders based on current capacity and backlog - do not allow unrealistic commitments to be made without scheduling input
• Flag orders that cannot be met on current commit without schedule disruption; escalate to General Manager with options, not just problems

Expedite Management

• Evaluate all expedite requests for feasibility before Customer Service commits to the customer
• Identify the schedule displacement caused by each expedite - what order moves out to accommodate the pull-in, and who needs to know
• Track and reason-code all expedites: customer-driven, plant-driven (quality), plant-driven (downtime), carrier-driven
• Report expedite volume and drivers to the General Manager on a weekly basis

Metrics & Reporting

• Track corrugator utilization, setup count, average run length, and schedule attainment on a daily basis
• Maintain a weekly scheduling report for the General Manager covering utilization trend, expedite rate, and schedule stability
• Identify patterns in scheduling fragmentation - excessive setups, short average run lengths, or repeat expedites on the same accounts - and surface them with root cause analysis
• Provide data to Quality and Production to support waste reduction efforts tied to setup and run-length optimization

System & Data Integrity

• Maintain order data accuracy in KIWI - ship dates, quantities, specifications, and board combinations must be current at all times
• Ensure the scheduling system reflects actual production status - completed orders closed, partial completions updated, holds flagged
• Identify gaps or workarounds in KIWI that reduce scheduling effectiveness; escalate system issues to the General Manager

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Owns ordering of roll stock
• Ordering temps as needed, with GM approval
• Participate in daily production standup - communicate schedule priorities, anticipated constraints, and any changes from prior day
• Coordinate with Maintenance on planned downtime windows - build PM and repair windows into the schedule rather than reacting to unplanned outages
• Coordinate with Shipping on daily load plan and outbound priorities - schedule must align with carrier pickup windows
• Support Quality's waste reduction efforts by optimizing run sequencing to reduce setup waste and trim loss

Key Performance Indicators (KPI's)

Formal targets will be established after a 60-90 day baseline data collection period. Corrugator utilization data from prior shift reports must be reason-coded before KPIs are actionable for performance management.

KPI

Definition

Target / Note

Schedule Attainment

% of scheduled orders completed on the day planned

Baseline TBD - 60-90 day data collection period required before targets are set

Corrugator Utilization

Net footage run as % of available corrugator capacity

Baseline TBD; healthy range typically 65-75% - plant-specific baseline required

Setup Count per Shift

Number of corrugator setups per shift by day

Baseline TBD; excessive setups are primary driver of utilization loss

Average Run Length

Average footage per corrugator run

Baseline TBD; short average run length indicates scheduling fragmentation

Expedite Rate

% of orders requiring schedule pull-in after original release

Baseline TBD; reason coding required - customer-driven vs. plant-driven

Schedule Stability

% of orders that ship on original committed date without rescheduling

Baseline TBD

Lead Time Accuracy

Quoted lead time vs. actual days from order to ship

Baseline TBD; tracked in coordination with Customer Service

Qualifications and Skills

Required

• 2+ years of production scheduling experience in corrugated, folding carton, or comparable sheet-fed or web manufacturing environment
• Working understanding of corrugator operations - flute profiles, liner and medium combinations, setup types, and how scheduling decisions drive utilization and waste
• Demonstrated ability to manage a dynamic schedule in real time - downtime, quality holds, and expedites are daily realities, not exceptions
• Strong analytical skills - able to identify scheduling patterns, quantify their impact, and propose sequencing improvements
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; advanced Excel skills for scheduling analysis and reporting
• Clear, direct communicator - able to deliver difficult capacity news to Customer Service and Sales without creating unnecessary alarm or false confidence

Preferred

• Experience with KIWI or comparable corrugated scheduling/ERP system
• Familiarity with corrugator board combination optimization and waste minimization principles
• Experience scheduling multiple converting lines simultaneously with interdependent constraints
• Bilingual English/Spanish - supports communication with floor supervisors and operators
• Exposure to lean scheduling concepts: run-length discipline, sequence optimization, changeover reduction

Core Competencies (Results based)

• Equipment Operation & Process Control - Operates baler and scrap handling systems efficiently to maintain production flow and minimize downtime.
• Material Handling & Quality Control - Ensures proper waste segregation, bale quality, weight accuracy, and contamination prevention.
• Safety & Environmental Compliance - Follows PPE, safety procedures, environmental requirements, and completes required documentation accurately.
• Reliability & Accountability - Performs inspections, maintains records, manages supplies, and consistently meets operational expectations.
• 5S & Workplace Organization - Maintains a clean, organized work area and supports efficient scrap handling processes.
• Problem Solving & Preventive Awareness - Identifies equipment issues, prevents interruptions, and supports reliable baler performance.

Working Conditions

Plant site

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

Requirement

Detail

Environment

Office setting within or adjacent to the plant; daily floor presence required

Standing / Walking

Regular - floor walks to verify schedule execution and identify production issues

Lifting

Minimal - up to 20 lbs occasionally

PPE

Safety glasses and steel-toed footwear required when on production floor

Schedule Flexibility

Day shift primary; early start may be required to release corrugator schedule before shift startup

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

The scheduling function at ND PKG is currently building its baseline. Success in the first year is defined as bringing structure, visibility, and optimization discipline to a function that directly drives corrugator performance.

Milestone

Expected Outcome

30 Days

Full ownership of daily schedule release for corrugator and converting; standing touchpoint with Customer Service and Production established; KIWI being used as primary scheduling tool

60 Days

Baseline data collection underway for utilization, setup count, and schedule attainment; expedite reason coding active; first corrugator run-length analysis completed

90 Days

Baseline metrics established and reported weekly; scheduling fragmentation drivers identified; corrugator setup count trending in the right direction; lead time accuracy visible

6 Months

Formal KPI targets proposed and approved; scheduling function operating proactively - sequence optimization, run-length discipline, and lead time integrity consistent

Attributes for Success

• Hard work - tackle each task with determination, passion and creativity; the willingness to put in whatever effort is required to successfully complete the job at hand.
• Pursuit of Excellence - strive to consistently exceed expectations in our day-to-day work and outperform our competitors in the marketplace, regarding work and company achievements as a collaborative goal with the desire to go above and beyond.
• Integrity - treat the company and teammates with upmost respect, operating on strong moral codes to drive company values and culture.
• Sense of Urgency - drive forward each day with speed, agility, and flexibility to capture unrealized opportunities and avoid potential risks for the business.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit - act like an owner, challenging the status quo, asking the right questions, and actively seeking ways to innovate and improve.
• Adaptability - be fluid with ND Paper's continuous evolution while driving change in a fast-paced environment, equipped with the ability to acclimate quickly.
• Servant Leadership - set an example by implementing meaningful leadership with heart, empathy, foresight and stewardship.