Master Production Scheduler

Role Purpose

The Master Production Scheduler (MPS) is responsible for developing, maintaining, and continuously improving the master production schedule to ensure the efficient, cost-effective, and timely manufacture of products in line with customer demand, inventory targets, and capacity constraints.

This role acts as the central integration point between Sales, Operations, Procurement, Manufacturing, and Logistics, balancing demand and supply while supporting business objectives such as service level improvement, inventory optimisation, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Master Production Planning

• Own and maintain the Master Production Schedule across relevant plants, product families, and time horizons.
• Translate the agreed demand plan into a feasible, capacity-validated production plan.
• Ensure alignment between Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), Material Requirements Planning (MRP), and shop-floor execution.
• Maintain schedule accuracy and integrity within ERP/MRP systems.

Capacity & Constraint Management

• Balance production demand with available capacity across labour, machinery, tooling, and critical resources.
• Identify capacity constraints, bottlenecks, and risks; develop mitigation plans in collaboration with operations and engineering teams.
• Support long-term capacity planning decisions, including shift patterns, overtime, subcontracting, or capital investment input.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the key liaison between Production, Supply Chain, Procurement, Customer Service, and Sales teams.
• Participate in S&OP and demand review meetings, contributing data-driven insights and recommendations.
• Communicate schedule changes, risks, and priorities clearly to manufacturing and support teams.

Inventory & Service Performance

• Drive optimal inventory levels by balancing customer service, working capital, and production efficiency.
• Monitor and manage keyKPIs such as:
  • Customer service levels / OTIF
  • Schedule adherence
  • Inventory turns
  • Forecast accuracy impact
• Proactively manage risks related to material shortages, supplier delays, or demand volatility.

Continuous Improvement & Systems

• Identify opportunities to improve planning processes, data accuracy, and system usage.
• Support implementation and optimisation of ERP/MRP, APS, or planning tools.
• Champion best practices in production planning, scheduling, and S&OP maturity.
• Support root cause analysis for service failures or production inefficiencies.

Key Skills & Competencies

Technical & Planning Expertise

• Strong understanding of:
  • Master Production Scheduling
  • MRP / ERP planning logic
  • Capacity planning and constraints management
  • S&OP and demand planning interfaces
• High level of analytical capability with the ability to interpret complex data sets.
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar.

Communication & Influence

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Confident in challenging assumptions and escalating risks constructively.
• Ability to translate complex planning scenarios into clear, actionable messages for non-planners.

Behavioural Attributes

• Highly organised with strong attention to detail.
• Calm and resilient under pressure in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Proactive, solutions-focused, and commercially minded.
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability for plan outcomes.

Experience & Qualifications

Essential

• Proven experience (typically 3-7+ years) in production planning, scheduling, or supply chain roles within a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience owning or contributing to a Master Production Schedule.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and shop-floor operations.

Desirable

• Experience in complex or high-mix manufacturing environments.
• Exposure to Lean, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Formal supply chain qualifications (e.g. APICS/ASCM CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent).
• Degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related discipline.

Key Success Measures

• High schedule adherence and plan stability.
• Improved customer service performance and OTIF delivery.
• Optimised inventory levels aligned with business targets.
• Effective cross-functional collaboration and decision-making.
• Continuous improvement of planning processes and data accuracy.