Job Title: Scheduling Analyst Department: Scheduling Management Reports To: Master Production Scheduler Direct Reports: N/A FLSA Status: Nonexempt Employment Type: Full Time
Position Summary The Scheduling Analyst develops, prepares, and maintains production schedules that guide manufacturing activities and resources, with the goal of maximizing efficiency and meeting output and timeline objectives. The role gathers data from internal teams on materials, inventories, resource availability, and delivery commitments, and builds it into accurate, achievable schedules. The analyst monitors daily production results and adjusts schedules as materials, designs, equipment, or other resources change. Using ERP systems, planning and scheduling software, and other database tools, the Scheduling Analyst develops and maintains master schedules and produces reporting that supports timely, informed decisions.
Key Responsibilities
- Translate SIOP monthly targets into detailed production schedules, prioritizing customer orders in hand and determining which items to produce and when.
- Balance demand and supply by building detailed production plans that account for Tarter’s manufacturing capabilities, capacities, and supplier lead times, resulting in a feasible, manageable schedule.
- Review external and internal customer orders on a regular basis and confirm a scheduling plan is in place to fulfill each before its due date.
- Drive and maintain appropriate inventory levels to prevent service issues.
- Communicate proactively with Operations, Procurement, Planning, and Finance across the Tarter manufacturing complex to keep teams aligned and avoid surprises.
- Monitor execution of the Master Production Schedule, identify developing issues early, and direct the adjustments needed to keep production on schedule.
- Allocate labor and equipment efficiently to meet production goals.
- Manage the added complexity of multi-plant cascading production schedules.
- Identify opportunities and implement best practices across supply chain processes.
- Provide ad hoc analytical support for projects.
- Define, evaluate, and report production KPIs, and work with team members to improve efficiency through data-driven recommendations.
- Maintain data integrity by updating databases, models, and reporting systems in line with best practices.
- Support management’s strategic goals with advanced production analysis.
- As needed, lead or assist with root cause analysis, working with team members to determine corrective actions and apply cross-functional learnings related to forecast accuracy, fill rates, inventory levels, and safety stock.
Leadership Responsibilities This position has no direct reports. The Scheduling Analyst is expected to lead through influence, including:
- Directing schedule adjustments and driving production adherence across Operations without formal supervisory authority
- Serving as the point of contact for scheduling across the manufacturing complex, including multi-plant cascading schedules
- Aligning Operations, Procurement, Planning, and Finance around a single, achievable schedule
- Setting priorities and managing own workload with minimal guidance
- Recommending process improvements and best practices, and championing their adoption
- Leading or contributing to root cause analysis and cross-functional corrective action efforts
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Schedule performance
- Schedule adherence / attainment: actual production vs. the scheduled plan, by day or week
- On-time delivery (OTD) / on-time-in-full (OTIF): orders fulfilled by the due date, which ties to “fulfill prior to due dates”
- Schedule stability: how often the frozen-horizon schedule changes, and how many late changes there are
- Plan-to-actual variance by plant and by flow (Mill to Gate, Mill to Gate West, Gate to Gate West)
Customer service
- Fill rate: orders or lines filled from available supply
- Backorders and past-due orders: count, dollar value, and aging
- Customer order lead time vs. commitment
Inventory
- Inventory levels vs. targets: days on hand and inventory turns
- Safety stock compliance: how often inventory falls below safety stock
- Stockouts: the “avoid service issues” duty
- Excess and obsolete inventory, if scheduling decisions affect it
Resource and capacity
- Capacity utilization: labor and equipment loading vs. available capacity
- Equipment/line utilization and changeover time, if the schedule drives sequencing
- Overtime or expedite frequency caused by schedule changes
Planning quality and data
- Forecast accuracy and bias: the role supports root cause analysis here, but it’s usually a shared metric with Planning
- Supplier lead time and material availability: shortages that disrupt the schedule
- Data integrity: error rates in ERP and scheduling data, and timeliness of reporting
- Root cause analysis closure: corrective actions completed on time
Suggestions for setting goals
- Pick 4-6 primary KPIs. Schedule adherence, OTD/OTIF, fill rate, inventory vs. target, and capacity utilization cover most of the role.
- Separate owned from influenced. The analyst directly controls schedule quality and data accuracy, but adherence depends on Operations, and forecast accuracy depends on Planning. Frame shared metrics as “contributes to” rather than sole accountability, which fits the no-direct-reports, influence-based role.
- Measure by flow so the multi-plant cascade doesn’t hide where problems originate.
Decision Making Authority The Scheduling Analyst exercises independent judgment on day-to-day scheduling decisions within established policies, SIOP targets, and capacity constraints. Decisions made independently include:
- Sequencing and timing of production orders within the approved schedule
- Adjusting the Master Production Schedule within the frozen/slush horizon rules in response to material, equipment, labor, or design changes
- Prioritizing customer orders to meet due dates, within established customer and business priorities
- Allocating labor and equipment across lines and plants to meet production goals
- Determining which scheduling issues require escalation, and when
- Recommending corrective actions from root cause analysis and process improvements
Decisions made in collaboration
- Schedule changes that affect Operations, Procurement, or Finance (such as material expedites, overtime, or changes to supplier orders)
- Multi-plant cascading changes (Mill to Gate, Mill to Gate West, Gate to Gate West)
- Inventory level and safety stock adjustments, with Planning
Decisions escalated to management
- Changes that would miss a customer commitment or require deviating from SIOP targets
- Significant cost impacts, such as premium freight, unplanned overtime beyond set thresholds, or expedite costs
- Changes to scheduling policies, frozen horizons, or priority rules
- Conflicts between departments that can’t be resolved at the working level
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
- 4-7 years of relevant experience in production planning, scheduling, or a related supply chain or manufacturing function
- Onsite, in-person work required
Preferred
- Supply chain background, training, or certification (such as APICS CPIM or CSCP)
- Experience in a multi-plant manufacturing environment
- Experience with ERP systems and production planning and scheduling software
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSA’s) Knowledge
- Production planning and scheduling principles, including master production scheduling, capacity planning, and finite/infinite loading
- Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) processes and how monthly targets translate into detailed schedules
- Supply chain fundamentals, including inventory management, safety stock, fill rate, and supplier lead times
- Manufacturing processes and multi-plant production flows (preferred)
Skills
- Previous planning or scheduling experience required
- Intermediate to advanced Excel skills required, including formulas, pivot tables, and lookups
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software preferred
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis and data-driven recommendations
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presenting KPIs and schedule status to stakeholders at all levels
- Attention to detail and a commitment to data accuracy and integrity
Abilities
- Adapt quickly to a changing environment, including shifts in materials, equipment, labor, or customer demand
- Plan and set priorities effectively with minimal guidance
- Work effectively in a team environment with associates across multiple sites
- Influence and align cross-functional partners (Operations, Procurement, Planning, Finance) without direct authority
- Manage multiple competing priorities and deadlines while keeping schedules feasible and on time
Physical Requirements The Scheduling Analyst works in both an office setting and a manufacturing environment, so the role involves a mix of desk-based and on-site activity.
- Sit for extended periods while working at a computer, typing and using a mouse, keyboard, and other peripheral computer tools
- Stand and walk, including to move around the manufacturing complex and meet with operations teams
- Speak and listen, including in meetings and by phone, to communicate with colleagues across departments and sites
- Bend, reach, push, pull, grasp, and handle tools or equipment as needed
- Lift up to 25 lbs occasionally
Work Environment This is an onsite, in-person role based at Tarter’s manufacturing locations. The Scheduling Analyst splits time between office space and the production floor, working closely with Operations, Procurement, Planning, and Finance teams at each site.
- Primarily office-based, with regular time on the manufacturing floor to monitor production, confirm status, and meet with operations teams
- Works at multiple Tarter manufacturing locations, supporting multi-plant cascading schedules (Mill to Gate, Mill to Gate West, Gate to Gate West)
- Exposure to a manufacturing environment, which may include noise, dust, temperature variation, and moving equipment such as forklifts
- Required to follow all site safety rules and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when on the production floor
- Standard business hours, with occasional flexibility needed to respond to production issues, schedule changes, or month-end needs
Travel Requirements Less than 10%, local travel between local Tarter plant locations as needed.
Success Measures
Within the first 12 months, the employee is expected to:
- Complete all required training, including safety, ERP and scheduling system training, and SIOP and Master Production Schedule processes.
- Demonstrate competency in core responsibilities, including building and maintaining production schedules for assigned flows (Mill to Gate, Mill to Gate West, Gate to Gate West) with minimal guidance.
- Meet departmental KPI expectations, including schedule adherence, on-time delivery, fill rate, inventory levels against targets, and capacity utilization.
- Maintain compliance with safety and quality standards, including site safety rules and PPE requirements when on the production floor.
- Successfully contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by identifying at least one process improvement or best practice, and by supporting root cause analysis and corrective actions.
- Build effective working relationships with Operations, Procurement, Planning, and Finance, keeping teams aligned and minimizing schedule surprises.
- Maintain data integrity in ERP, scheduling databases, and reporting, and deliver accurate, timely KPI reporting.
ADA Compliance Statement:
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state laws.
EEO Statement Tarter Gate Company, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law.
