CNC Production Supervisor

Production Scheduler Job Description (P&F Machining, Otsego, MN)

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Production Scheduler to join our precision machining facility in Otsego, MN. The ideal candidate will be a critical thinker with exceptional organizational skills, a strong background in manufacturing production planning, and essential proficiency with the Epicor ERP system. This role is crucial for optimizing our CNC machining, turning, milling, and assembly operations to ensure we meet customer delivery requirements and maximize efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Production Scheduling & Planning:
  • Develop, implement, and maintain the daily and weekly production schedule for all machining and assembly work centers, focusing on CNC Milling, Turning, and Swiss Machining capabilities.
  • Utilize Epicor to perform finite capacity scheduling, balancing customer demand, machine capacity, tooling availability, and material constraints.
  • Adjust production schedules in real-time to mitigate delays caused by equipment breakdowns, material shortages, or engineering changes, communicating impacts to relevant stakeholders (Sales, Customer Service, Production/Operations).
  • Minimize setup times and changeovers through effective sequencing and grouping of work orders within the schedule.
• Materials Management & Inventory Control:
  • Collaborate with Purchasing to ensure the timely availability of raw materials, components, and tooling needed to support the production schedule.
  • Monitor and manage Work-in-Progress (WIP) and finished goods inventory levels to prevent shortages or overstock situations.
  • Support the accuracy of inventory data by monitoring material consumption and investigating discrepancies in Epicor.
• Process Improvement & Reporting:
  • Analyze production specifications, historical data, and plant capacity to identify bottlenecks and recommend improvements to manufacturing processes and lead times.
  • Generate and distribute regular reports on schedule attainment, on-time delivery performance, capacity utilization, and potential risks to management.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Experience:
  • Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in production planning or scheduling, preferably in a high-mix, low-volume job shop environment or precision metal machining industry.
  • Demonstrated proficiency in using Epicor ERP for scheduling, Material Requirements Planning (MRP), capacity planning, and work order management is mandatory.
• Technical Knowledge:
  • Strong understanding of CNC machining processes (Milling, Turning, Swiss).
  • Knowledge of supply chain principles, including forecasting, inventory control, and logistics.
• Soft Skills:
  • Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities to handle scheduling conflicts under pressure.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills to coordinate effectively across departments (Production, Engineering, Sales).
• Education:
  • Associates or Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing, Business Administration, or a related technical field is preferred. Relevant experience may substitute for a degree.

Core Skills & Keywords for ATS Candidate Search

1. Production Planning & Scheduling

Use these to surface candidates with relevant hands-on experience:

• Production Scheduling
• Production Planner / Scheduler
• Finite Capacity Scheduling
• Master Scheduling
• Daily/Weekly Scheduling
• Work Order Management
• Capacity Planning
• MRP / Material Requirements Planning
• Shop Floor Scheduling

2. ERP & Technical Tools

Since Epicor expertise is required:

• Epicor (mandatory)
• Epicor ERP Scheduling
• Epicor MRP
• ERP Systems (secondary)
• Manufacturing ERP

3. CNC & Manufacturing Knowledge

Candidates with machining or job-shop background:

• CNC Machining
• CNC Milling
• CNC Turning
• Swiss Machining
• Precision Machining
• Job Shop Environment
• High-mix Low-volume
• Manufacturing Operations

4. Materials & Inventory Management

To find candidates with supply chain alignment:

• Materials Planning
• Inventory Control
• WIP Management
• Raw Materials Coordination
• Material Shortage Resolution
• Supply Chain Coordination

5. Analytical & Process Improvement Skills

Search terms that reflect problem-solving ability:

• Process Improvement
• Bottleneck Analysis
• Capacity Utilization
• Scheduling Optimization
• Root Cause Analysis
• Continuous Improvement

6. Communication & Cross-functional Skills

Useful for filtering resumes with strong soft skills:

• Cross-functional Communication
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Production Reporting
• Scheduling Communication
• Team Collaboration

7. Education & Experience Keywords

Helpful ATS filters:

• Bachelors in Supply Chain Management
• Associates in Manufacturing / Business
• 3–5 years Production Planner experience
• Manufacturing Scheduler