Production Planner

Slate Auto

$96K — $144K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, Engineering or related field preferred, or equivalent experience.
  • 5+ years of experience in material and production planning.
  • Familiarity with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
  • Prior experience in regulated manufacturing environments, such as automotive or medical devices, is advantageous.
  • High proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience with ERP/MRP systems.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute material requirements plans based on forecasts and inventory targets.
  • Ensure timely availability of raw materials and components for production.
  • Monitor inventory levels and maintain accurate records through collaboration with warehouse staff.
  • Communicate with suppliers for delivery schedules and quality issues resolution.
  • Collaborate with production teams to prepare for product launches and changes.
  • Participate in continuous improvement projects to enhance material flow and process efficiency.
  • Document material plans and maintain compliance with audit requirements.

Benefits

  • Opportunities for ongoing training in supply chain management and lean manufacturing.
  • Support for professional certifications like APICS and Six Sigma.
  • Mentorship programs to aid in career advancement to senior roles.
Full Job Description
| WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

We are seeking a proactive, high-energy Production Scheduler to serve as the heartbeat of our automotive manufacturing operations. In this role, you aren't just moving dates on a calendar; you are orchestrating the complex flow of a high-volume assembly environment. You will be responsible for creating and maintaining production schedules that balance customer demand, equipment capacity, and material availability.

The ideal candidate is a self-starter who doesn't wait for a problem to arrive before solving it. You should be as comfortable wearing high-vis gear on the shop floor talking to team members as you are in a boardroom presenting schedule attainment metrics to senior management.

| WORK AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENT:

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship at this time.

| WHAT YOU GET TO DO:

Operational Scheduling & Coordination
  • Develop and maintain a rolling production schedule that satisfies both primary OEM requirements and vital service demands.
  • Act as the primary bridge between Production Control, Manufacturing, and Service to ensure alignment on daily, weekly, and monthly output goals.
  • Anticipate potential bottlenecks or capacity constraints and proactively develop "Plan B" scenarios to maintain flow.
  • Lead daily "Tiers" or production stand-up meetings, providing clear direction on priorities and recovery plans.


Work Order Management & Systems execution
  • Issue and manage Work Orders through the ERP/MES system (e.g., SAP, NetSuite, Plex, Fuuz), ensuring data integrity and timely closing of production signals.
  • Monitor production progress in real-time, adjusting schedules dynamically as machine downtime, quality holds, or material shortages arise.
  • Maintain a high degree of Excel flexibility; while we rely on our ERP, you must be able to build "offline" models, pivot tables, and trackers to solve complex problems on the fly.


Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication
  • Interface with all levels of the organization-from providing clarity to shop floor operators to reporting schedule risks to senior leadership.
  • Collaborate with the Material Planning team to ensure the supply chain supports the current production sequence.
  • Work closely with the Quality and Engineering departments to schedule trials, new product introductions (NPI), and engineering change crossovers without disrupting customer shipments.


Demand & Capacity Optimization
  • Analyze historical performance data and equipment OEE to refine scheduling logic and improve lead-time accuracy.
  • Support the transition of obsolete parts and new model year launches by managing the "run-out" and "ramp-up" schedules.


Continuous Improvement
  • Identify opportunities to reduce changeover times and optimize batch sizes through lean scheduling principles.
  • Conduct root cause analysis on "missed" production targets and implement corrective scheduling actions to prevent recurrence


| WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM:

Education & Experience
  • Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred.
  • Three (3) to Six (6) years of experience in production scheduling or master planning, specifically within a high-volume automotive or Tier-1 supplier environment.
  • Strong proficiency in ERP/MES systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle/NetSuite, Plex, FUUZ).
  • Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel is non-negotiable (lookups, complex formulas, pivot tables, and data visualization).
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills with the "grit" to communicate effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure shop floor environment.


Preferred Skills
  • Deep understanding of Just-in-Time (JIT) and Just-in-Sequence (JIS) delivery models.
  • Experience with AIAG standards, including labeling and shipping requirements.
  • Familiarity with Theory of Constraints (ToC) and how to schedule around a "bottleneck" operation.
  • Proven ability to remain calm and analytical when production priorities shift mid-shift.


| SALARY RANGE:

The compensation for this position is the range Slate reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for the position taking into account the wide variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including job-related knowledge; skillset; experience, education and training; certifications; work location; and other relevant business and organizational factors.

Base Pay Range (Annual)

96,333.00 - 144,499.00 USD Annual

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