Career Area:

Job Description:

Caterpillar is seeking a Demand and Orders Manager in North Little Rock, AR. In this role, you will lead production scheduling, production control, order management, and cross-functional execution across manufacturing operations — from Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) through final machine and aftermarket shipment. This role ensures optimized production schedules, effective production control, accurate demand translation into executable factory plans, and on-time delivery performance.

This position requires a leader who can troubleshoot production scheduling challenges, improve planning processes, and partner closely with operations, supply chain, quality, and business stakeholders.

What you can look forward to in this role:

• Lead production planning and scheduling activities to ensure customer demand, inventory targets, and operational goals are achieved.

• Develop and optimize production schedules while balancing inventory levels, capacity constraints, labor availability, equipment utilization, and product quality requirements.

• Manage and coach a team of Production Schedulers, Demand & Orders Analysts, Order Technicians, and Shipping Coordination

• Oversee order intake, analysis, and entry for dealer and aftermarket demand

• Monitor schedule attainment and production performance; identify gaps, drive recovery plans, and ensure alignment with customer requirements and delivery timelines.

• Support inventory strategy, supply planning, and Rolling Business Plan (RBP/RBM) forecasts while balancing demand variability and factory stability

• Partner cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, and Manufacturing teams

• Lead New Product Introduction (NPI) planning, including phase-in/phase-out scheduling and supply readiness

• Develop scenario-based scheduling strategies for changes in production volume, mix, rescheduling, and plant downtime

• Identify operational risks and improvement opportunities; establish priorities, work plans, and execution timelines

• Ensure adherence to compliance, quality standards, and supply chain best practices

A successful candidate in this role will showcase their skills in:

• Production Scheduling and Control: Knowledge of procedures and tools for scheduling and controlling production runs; ability to utilize knowledge of daily manufacturing processes to assure quality deliverables.

• Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.

• Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Understanding the necessity and value of accuracy; ability to complete tasks with high levels of precision.

• Process Management: Knowledge of business process improvement tools and techniques; ability to understand, monitor, update, control, or enhance existing business or work processes.

• Cross-Team Integration: Understanding of the importance of inter-team collaboration in breaking down silos and achieving business results; ability to lead employees from various functions to communicate, coordinate work across divisions, and collaborate in solving problems as one team.

Top Candidates for this position may also have:

• Experience in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments with complex scheduling requirements.

• Experience in production scheduling, production control, manufacturing planning, or operations management.

• Experience balancing demand, capacity, material availability, and inventory within a manufacturing environment.

• Experience supporting S&OP and business planning processes from a manufacturing perspective.

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.

• 5+ years of relevant manufacturing or supply chain experience and 3+ years of leadership experience.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and process improvement skills.

Additional Information:

• The primary location for this position is North Little Rock, AR.

• Domestic relocation assistance is available

• Sponsorship is not available

Summary Pay Range:

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar. 

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits*

• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*

• 401(k) savings plans*

• Health Savings Account (HSA)*

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*

• Health Lifestyle Programs*

• Employee Assistance Program*

• Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*

• Career Development*

• Incentive bonus*

• Disability benefits

• Life Insurance

• Parental leave

• Adoption benefits

• Tuition Reimbursement

* These benefits also apply to part-time employees

Posting Dates:

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.