JOB TITLE: Production Planner / Scheduler
EXEMPT STATUS: Salary – Exempt
POSITION PURPOSE: The Production Planner / Scheduler will be responsible for coordinating customer demand with manufacturing capacity to support on-time delivery, efficient machine utilization, and clear communication between customers and internal departments. This position helps maintain the production schedule, monitors order status, coordinates production priorities, and supports customer service activities related to orders, forecasts, delivery timing, and shipment commitments.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop, maintain, and communicate daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules
- Schedule injection molding, cleanroom operations, secondary operations, assembly, validation-related activities, and new tool coordination as needed
- Review customer purchase orders, blanket releases, forecasts, inventory needs, and shipment requirements to help determine production priorities
- Balance customer demand with machine availability, labor capacity, material availability, tooling readiness, quality requirements, and shipping commitments
- Track open orders, past-due orders, shortages, material constraints, schedule changes, and potential delivery risks
- Coordinate with production, purchasing, engineering, quality, tooling, maintenance, and shipping to support job readiness and on-time delivery
- Help ensure jobs have required materials, components, tooling, documentation, labels, and inspection requirements, available before production
- Participate in production meetings and communicate schedule priorities, changes, and concerns
- Serve as a customer contact for order status, delivery updates, schedule changes, shipment timing, and expedite requests
- Process customer schedule changes, and related order documentation
- Communicate proactively with customers regarding delays, recovery plans, shipment timing, and order changes
- Help resolve customer service issues by gathering information, coordinating internally, communicating updates, and following through to resolution
- Maintain accurate customer order records, account information, scheduling data, and production-related information in company systems
- Follow basic safety regulations in manual
- Other duties as necessary
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- Minor lifting may be required.
- Work mostly in an office environment, occasionally on the press floor, shipping area, or manufacturing areas.
- Must follow company safety, quality, and cleanroom-related procedures when applicable.
REPORTS TO: Operations Manager
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- Associate or bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, operations, manufacturing, or related field preferred.
Related Experience:
- Three to five years of experience in production planning, scheduling, production control, customer service, supply chain, or manufacturing coordination preferred.
- Experience in injection molding, plastics, contract manufacturing, medical device, or regulated manufacturing preferred.
- Experience working with ERP, MRP, MES, scheduling systems, or production tracking systems preferred.
- Prior experience communicating directly with customers regarding order status, delivery timing, expedites, and schedule changes preferred.
JOB KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS REQUIRED:
- Strong organizational, follow-up, and time management skills.
- Ability to manage changing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to communicate professionally with customers and effectively with internal departments.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
- Ability to work with ERP, MRP, MES, or similar production tracking systems.
- Basic understanding of production scheduling, customer demand, inventory, and manufacturing order flow.
- Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
- Ability to identify risks early, communicate clearly, and follow up until resolved.
- Ability to build effective working relationships with customers, suppliers, production employees, and internal support teams.
Pay: $62,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
Experience:
- Production planning: 3 years (Preferred)
- Plastics injection molding: 1 year (Preferred)
- ERP systems: 1 year (Preferred)
- Customer service: 1 year (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Saint Paul, MN 55110 (Required)
Work Location: In person
