Scheduling Manager

Position Summary

The Scheduling Manager is responsible for overseeing and coordinating production scheduling activities to ensure customer orders are completed efficiently, accurately, and on time. This position develops and maintains production schedules based on customer demand, available capacity, materials, labor, equipment, and operational priorities.

The Scheduling Manager works closely with Production, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Materials, Customer Service, and other departments to balance competing priorities, identify potential scheduling issues, and proactively adjust plans to support on-time delivery and efficient utilization of company resources.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and communicate production schedules based on customer demand, production capacity, material availability, labor requirements, and operational priorities.
• Coordinate scheduling across multiple production departments and manufacturing processes.
• Monitor production progress and make adjustments to schedules as needed to address delays, changes in demand, material shortages, staffing issues, equipment availability, or other constraints.
• Work closely with Production Managers and Supervisors to establish realistic production timelines and priorities.
• Partner with Materials and Purchasing to identify and resolve material availability issues that may impact production schedules.
• Coordinate with Customer Service and other internal stakeholders regarding order priorities, production timing, and changes to expected completion dates.
• Evaluate production capacity and identify potential bottlenecks or scheduling conflicts before they affect customer commitments.
• Prioritize work orders and production activities based on customer requirements, operational needs, and company priorities.
• Maintain accurate scheduling information within the company's ERP/MRP or scheduling systems.
• Monitor key scheduling and production metrics, including schedule adherence, capacity utilization, production lead times, and on-time completion.
• Provide regular updates to leadership regarding production schedules, capacity constraints, delays, and potential risks.
• Facilitate communication between departments when schedule changes or production issues arise.
• Analyze historical production data and current demand to improve scheduling accuracy and efficiency.
• Identify opportunities to improve production flow, reduce downtime, minimize bottlenecks, and optimize available resources.
• Assist with long-term capacity planning and production forecasting.
• Establish and maintain scheduling procedures, standards, and best practices.
• Ensure scheduling processes are consistently followed across applicable departments.
• Participate in cross-functional meetings and provide scheduling updates, recommendations, and solutions.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to production planning, scheduling, and operational efficiency.
• Perform other duties as assigned. Supervisory Responsibilities
• Directly supervise and develop scheduling personnel, as applicable.
• Provide guidance, training, and support to employees responsible for production scheduling.
• Establish clear expectations and monitor performance of scheduling team members.
• Promote effective communication, accountability, teamwork, and problem-solving within the scheduling function. Required Qualifications
• 3–5 years of experience in production scheduling, manufacturing operations, supply chain, or a related field.
• Previous supervisory or management experience preferred.
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Strong understanding of production planning, capacity management, and scheduling principles.
• Experience working with ERP/MRP or production scheduling systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively with employees and leaders across multiple departments.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to identify scheduling conflicts or potential issues before they impact production.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Experience in furniture manufacturing or a similar make-to-order manufacturing environment.
• Experience with lean manufacturing or continuous improvement principles.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and production planning tools.
• Strong knowledge of capacity planning, inventory management, and production flow.
• Experience using Microsoft Excel or other data-analysis tools. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Planning & Organization: Ability to develop detailed schedules, manage competing priorities, and maintain accurate production information. Analytical Thinking: Ability to analyze production data, capacity, demand, and constraints to make informed scheduling decisions. Problem Solving: Ability to quickly identify scheduling issues and develop practical solutions. Communication: Ability to clearly communicate schedules, changes, priorities, and potential issues to employees, supervisors, managers, and leadership. Leadership: Ability to establish priorities, hold team members accountable, and promote collaboration across departments. Decision Making: Ability to make timely decisions while balancing customer needs, production requirements, available resources, and operational priorities. Technology: Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and the ability to learn and effectively use ERP/MRP and scheduling systems. Physical/Work Environment This position primarily works in an office environment but may regularly interact with and visit manufacturing and production areas. The employee may be exposed to typical manufacturing environments, including machinery, noise, dust, and varying temperatures. The ability to walk through production areas and communicate with employees and supervisors throughout the manufacturing facility is required.