Master Planner-Scheduler

ROLE SUMMARY

This is an Onsite position based at our location in Hanover Park, IL. 

• No Visa sponsorships are available for this position. 

The Master Planner-Scheduler is responsible for developing, maintaining, and executing the plant’s master production schedule to ensure customer demand is met while optimizing production capacity, inventory levels, labor, and material availability. This position serves as a key link between Customer Service, Production, Purchasing, Inventory, Shipping, and Operations. The Master Planner-Scheduler translates customer demand and forecasts into an executable production plan, proactively identifies capacity or material constraints, and drives cross-functional actions to minimize shortages, production disruptions, excess inventory, and past-due orders. The ideal candidate is highly analytical, organized, and comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where priorities and customer requirements may change quickly.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop, maintain, and communicate the master production schedule based on customer demand, forecasts, backlog, inventory levels, production capacity, and material availability


• Translate customer requirements and forecasts into realistic short- and long-term production plans


• Review production requirements daily and adjust schedules based on changing customer demand, material availability, equipment capacity, labor constraints, and operational priorities


• Maintain appropriate planning horizons and ensure production schedules support customer delivery expectations


• Monitor open customer orders, backlog, past-due orders, and production priorities and communicate potential delivery risks


• Partner closely with Production leadership to ensure schedules are realistic, achievable, and aligned with available labor and equipment capacity


• Coordinate with Purchasing and Material Planning to identify material shortages that could impact the production schedule


• Work closely with Inventory to ensure system inventory accurately supports planning and scheduling decisions


• Analyze capacity requirements and identify potential bottlenecks, resource constraints, or areas requiring overtime, additional staffing, or schedule adjustments


• Lead or participate in daily and weekly production planning meetings


• Support SIOP/S&OP activities by providing production capacity, backlog, inventory, and demand information


• Monitor schedule adherence and work with Operations to identify root causes for missed production schedules


• Prioritize production orders based on customer requirements, material availability, business needs, and operational constraints


• Communicate schedule changes and priorities clearly to Production, Customer Service, Purchasing, Shipping, Inventory, and plant leadership


• Identify opportunities to reduce excess inventory, improve inventory turns, and optimize working capital while maintaining customer service levels


• Monitor slow-moving, obsolete, and excess inventory and partner with appropriate departments on corrective actions


• Maintain accurate planning parameters, lead times, production data, and other planning-related information within ERP/MRP systems


• Review and analyze demand trends, production performance, inventory levels, and forecast changes to identify potential risks


• Support new product launches, product transitions, engineering changes, and phase-in/phase-out planning


• Develop contingency plans for material shortages, equipment downtime, labor shortages, supplier disruptions, and unexpected changes in customer demand


• Drive continuous improvements within production planning and scheduling processes


• Provide timely escalation of significant supply, capacity, customer delivery, or production risks to plant leadership


• Perform additional duties and projects as assigned 

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Logistics, Engineering, or related field; OR 5-years’ minimum directly related experience without degree


• 3–5+ years of experience in production planning, master scheduling, materials planning, supply chain, or a related manufacturing role


• Strong experience working within an ERP/MRP fast-paced manufacturing environment


• Experience developing and managing production schedules within a fast-paced manufacturing environment 

Required Skills:

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to analyze and interpret large amounts of operational data


• Demonstrated ability to balance customer demand with supply (material, inventory, labor, equipment, and capacity constraints) 

Preferred Experience & Skills:

• Filtration, Automotive, or Aerospace industry experience


• SAP experience