Various manufacturing facilities often schedule materials and labor resources to meet production needs and fulfill customer orders. Those individuals who oversee these things are often known as production schedulers. Their responsibilities usually reflect the combined duties of supply chain management and inventory control. Production scheduler jobs may also be involved with materials management, sales forecasting and accounting. These positions often require a four-year degree in business or logistics, and professional certification may be desirable in some regions.
Production scheduler careers can usually be found in manufacturing capacities. These positions are likely to perform functions relative to supply chain management, inventory control and business communications. For example, a packaging and shipping company may need production schedulers to develop labor plans and schedules, critically assess inventory and communicate plant capacities and capabilities to managers.
A combined team environment of order management, sales and marketing channels and manufacturing is likely to work together to meet production needs. Production scheduler jobs are often found within this framework, coordinating between departments and supervising labor and materials resources. A classic production scheduler job description may entail the following duties: adjust the manufacturing schedule based on staffing restrictions and machine availability, analyze sales trends and execute customer orders to meet business and departmental objectives.
In addition to staff members and machines, manufacturing facilities often rely heavily upon materials procurement. Some production scheduler jobs may focus entirely on materials, thereby coordinating the purchase and distribution of raw materials and supplies within the organization. Raw materials may include assembly parts, chemicals or food ingredients, depending upon the industry. Such positions may also supervise storage and stock rooms, manage the activities of workers engaged in receiving supply orders and prepare materials for the assembly process.
In some instances, production plants need employees who can forecast and plan for anticipated product orders. Production scheduler jobs may thus be combined with duties pertaining to demand sales forecast. Their responsibilities often center on maintaining current and long-range schedules that serve as foundations for site business plans and operational budgets. In addition to planning and developing a realistic master schedule, these positions are also likely to ensure product availability meets future demand. They may further review factors that could affect schedules, coordinate implementation dates for engineering changes and ensure all bills of materials are updated accordingly.
Another department largely concerned with manufacturing inputs and outputs is accounting. As production scheduler jobs often have intimate knowledge of this data, they may perform functions directly relevant to cost analysis and accounting. For example, duties in some instances may include validating purchase orders and receipts, developing reports that compare productivity with labor costs and assisting in month-end closing processes. Production managers may also be accountable for ensuring outputs meet the appropriated costs and schedules as previously planned.
Large manufacturing facilities or laboratories are likely to maintain a team of production members. The person who supervises such a team is likely to be the master scheduler. This position, likely recognized as one of the operation’s managers, may communicate priority orders to subordinates, coordinate and process deliveries of actual shipments and regularly meet with customers to balance ongoing production schedules that reflect demand fluctuations. The master scheduler may also maintain metrics to monitor performance of assembly lines and manage pre- and post-pilot programs concerning new and obsolete production.
Many production scheduler duties lend themselves to a degree of critical thinking, technical writing and project management skills. Employers may also prefer those candidates who hold four-year degrees in business, logistics or related fields. Professional certification may be required for candidates in some regions. The Association of Operations Management (APICS), for example, offers two certification programs, Certified in Production and Inventory Management and Certified Supply Chain Professional, that are both recognized worldwide.