Description

The Master Scheduler - Production Planner plays a crucial role in optimizing manufacturing operations within our cosmetics facility. This position focuses on developing and maintaining efficient production schedules, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and driving continuous improvement in planning processes. The Planner works closely with various departments to balance demand, capacity, and resources, ensuring smooth operations and timely delivery of products while supporting long-term organizational success.

Key functions in the role include:

1. Always maintain a minimum of two weeks of scheduled production, with a target of 6 weeks locked and 12 weeks planned, ensuring optimal resource utilization and delivery performance.
2. Generate and distribute daily production reports, providing crucial data for decision-making across departments. 
3. At least once a week, publish a Hot List of any critical dependencies that are required to meet the published production schedule. This could include raw materials, components, equipment repairs, or other issues.
4. Conduct daily standup meeting with production teams to communicate daily schedule.
5. Collaborate with Sales, Operations, and Supply Chain teams to develop and adjust production plans based on demand forecasts, capacity constraints, and inventory levels. 
6. Utilize statistical process control and data analysis to identify trends, constraints, dependencies, and opportunities for improvement in the planning process. 
7. Lead continuous improvement initiatives in production planning, applying methodologies such as PDSA cycles. 
8. Participate in regular cross-functional meetings to enhance communication and break down silos between departments. 
9. Implement and maintain visual management systems to make production plans and performance metrics transparent and actionable for all stakeholders. 
10. Monitor and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) related to production planning, presenting findings and recommendations to management. 
11. Ensure production plans align with cGMPs, FDA standards, SOPs, and internal quality systems while continuously seeking ways to improve these systems. 
12. Optimize production sequencing to minimize changeovers and increase overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). 
13. Collaborate with the Production Supervisor to ensure smooth execution of production plans and address any deviations promptly.

Requirements

1. Demonstrated experience in production planning or related roles, with a minimum of 3-5 years in a manufacturing environment, preferably in cosmetics or personal care industries.
2. Proven ability to analyze production data to drive continuous process improvements and inform system-wide decision-making.
3. Track record of successful project management in manufacturing, particularly in production optimization and efficiency initiatives.
4. Experience in developing and maintaining flexible production schedules that balance efficiency, quality, and customer needs.
5. Proficiency in applying statistical analysis and forecasting techniques to production planning and process control.
6. Demonstrated success in implementing or improving visual management systems to enhance transparency and communication in production environments.
7. Knowledge of cGMPs and relevant quality standards, preferably gained in cosmetics or FDA-regulated industries.
8. Proven ability to lead cross-functional improvement initiatives, fostering collaboration and long-term thinking in production planning and efficiency.