Production Planner/Scheduler

Department: Operations
Reports To: Operations Manager / Plant Manager
FLSA Status: Exempt/Non-Exempt (as applicable)

Position Summary

The Production Planner / Scheduler is responsible for planning, coordinating, and optimizing production schedules within a high-volume precision cleaning facility serving the semiconductor industry. This role works in close partnership with the Production Manager to align output with capacity, labor, equipment availability, and customer demand. The Planner owns the production schedule and demand prioritization, while the Production Manager owns execution, labor management, and floor performance. Clear role alignment ensures operational efficiency, accountability, and on-time delivery in a highly regulated cleanroom environment.

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning & Scheduling

• Develop and maintain daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules based on customer demand, capacity, and material availability.
• Prioritize jobs in alignment with customer commitments, contractual SLAs, and strategic accounts.
• Conduct daily schedule review meetings with the Production Manager to assess progress and adjust priorities as needed.
• Monitor WIP (Work in Process) and proactively adjust future schedules to mitigate bottlenecks.
• Provide forward-looking demand forecasts to support staffing and equipment planning.

Production Coordination & Operational Alignment

• Partner with the Production Manager to validate realistic capacity assumptions.
• Adjust schedules based on real-time production feedback, equipment downtime, quality holds, or labor constraints.
• Support daily production meetings with schedule performance metrics and risk analysis.
• Participate in capacity planning and continuous improvement initiatives.

Customer & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Serve as the primary liaison between Customer Service, Operations, Quality, and Shipping regarding schedule commitments.
• Communicate schedule risks or changes impacting customer delivery dates.
• Support new product introductions and special processing requirements.

Inventory & Material Management

• Ensure incoming customer parts are properly staged and sequenced for production.
• Coordinate material readiness and consumable availability with Inventory Control and Purchasing.
• Maintain FIFO discipline and lot traceability per semiconductor standards.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

• Track and report key performance indicators:
• On-Time Delivery (OTD)
• Cycle Time
• Throughput
• Capacity Utilization

• Review performance trends jointly with the Production Manager and recommend corrective actions.
• Support Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen initiatives.

Compliance & Quality

• Ensure schedules align with ISO, SEMI, and customer-specific quality standards.
• Coordinate with the Production Manager to ensure schedule adjustments do not compromise contamination control protocols.
• Maintain documentation integrity and audit readiness.

Decision Authority & Role Boundaries

Clear delineation of authority between the Production Planner and Production Manager is essential for operational effectiveness.

Production Planner – Decision Authority

The Production Planner has authority over:

• Establishing and modifying the master production schedule.
• Setting job priorities based on customer commitments and business strategy.
• Committing delivery dates in coordination with Customer Service.
• Re-sequencing jobs to optimize throughput and meet on-time delivery targets.
• Identifying capacity constraints and escalating long-term resource needs.
• Determining production loading levels based on forecast and confirmed demand.

Production Manager – Decision Authority

The Production Manager has authority over:

• Execution of the production schedule on the manufacturing floor.
• Labor allocation, staffing levels, overtime approval, and shift assignments.
• Equipment utilization and operational adjustments during shifts.
• Real-time floor decisions to address downtime, quality issues, or safety concerns.
• Process discipline, contamination control enforcement, and procedural compliance.
• Escalation of immediate operational risks impacting output.

Shared / Collaborative Decisions

The Planner and Production Manager jointly collaborate on:

• Daily production target adjustments.
• Recovery plans for missed output or downtime events.
• Capacity expansion planning.
• Implementation of process improvements affecting flow or scheduling logic.
• Evaluation of expedite requests that may disrupt planned production flow.

In cases of conflict:

• Customer delivery commitments and strategic priorities are determined by the Planner in alignment with Operations leadership.
• Operational feasibility and execution methods are determined by the Production Manager.
• Escalation to the Operations Manager or Plant Manager occurs when trade-offs materially impact cost, quality, or customer commitments.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or related field preferred.
• 3–5+ years of production planning or scheduling experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in semiconductor, precision cleaning, cleanroom, aerospace, or high-tech industries strongly preferred.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems required.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of capacity planning, constraint management, and high-mix production.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with production floor leadership.
• Proficiency in ERP systems and advanced Excel skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication skills in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments.

Key Success Factors

• Strong working partnership between Planner and Production Manager.
• ≥95% On-Time Delivery performance.
• Proactive bottleneck management.
• Clear accountability without role overlap.
• Continuous improvement mindset focused on throughput, efficiency, and quality.

Requirements:
Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or related field preferred.
• 3–5+ years of production planning or scheduling experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in semiconductor, precision cleaning, cleanroom, aerospace, or high-tech industries strongly preferred.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems required.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of capacity planning, constraint management, and high-mix production.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with production floor leadership.
• Proficiency in ERP systems and advanced Excel skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication skills in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments.

Key Success Factors

• Strong working partnership between Planner and Production Manager.
• ≥95% On-Time Delivery performance.
• Proactive bottleneck management.
• Clear accountability without role overlap.
• Continuous improvement mindset focused on throughput, efficiency, and quality.

MSR-FSR is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

COMPETENCIES:

• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

• Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.

• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

• Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Educates others on the value of diversity; Promotes a harassment-free environment; Builds a diverse workforce.

• Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.

• Initiative - Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.

• Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.

• Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.

• Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; Measures self against standard of excellence; Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.

• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.

• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of t