Location: SMT Inc. – Raleigh, NC
Reports To: VP of Operations
Direct Reports: Production Scheduler / Planning Assistant

Position Overview

The Master Scheduler is responsible for developing, maintaining, and executing the master production schedule across all manufacturing areas including sheet metal fabrication, welding, paint, mechanical assembly, and electrical assembly.

This role owns the alignment between customer demand, material availability, and production capacity to ensure on-time delivery, optimized throughput, and efficient use of labor and equipment.

The Master Scheduler will lead the planning function, drive accountability across departments, and serve as a key liaison between operations, procurement, engineering, and customer service.

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning & Scheduling

• Build and maintain the Master Production Schedule (MPS) aligned with customer demand and business priorities
• Translate demand into daily and weekly production plans across all departments
• Sequence jobs based on capacity, constraints, and due dates
• Release jobs to the floor in alignment with material and engineering readiness
• Monitor schedule adherence and adjust in real time to disruptions

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Partner with Procurement to ensure material availability and proactively resolve shortages
• Work with Engineering to track new part releases, revisions, and NPI timelines
• Coordinate with Production Leads to validate capacity and execution feasibility
• Communicate clear commit dates to Customer Service / Sales

Capacity & Constraint Management

• Identify and manage bottlenecks across fabrication, paint, and assembly
• Balance load across departments to maximize throughput
• Drive decisions on overtime, outsourcing, or rescheduling when required
• Continuously evaluate labor and machine capacity vs demand

ERP & Data Management

• Own scheduling accuracy within Epicor ERP (transitioning from Made2Manage ERP) or equivalent systems
• Ensure routing, lead times, and job data are accurate and maintained
• Utilize system data to drive planning decisions and improve visibility

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop the scheduling/planning team
• Establish standard work for planners and ensure consistency in execution
• Hold team accountable to schedule integrity and data accuracy

Performance Management

• Drive improvements in key metrics:
  • On-Time Delivery (OTD)
  • Schedule Adherence
  • Lead Time Reduction
  • WIP Levels
• Identify root causes of misses and implement corrective actions

Qualifications

Required

• 5+ years of production scheduling or planning experience in manufacturing
• Experience in high-mix, low-to-medium volume environments
• Strong understanding of sheet metal fabrication and/or assembly operations
• Experience with ERP systems (preferably Epicor ERP or similar)
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Preferred

• Experience with electrical assembly or complex assemblies
• Lean / Six Sigma experience (strong plus)

Key Competencies

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making ability
• Ability to operate with urgency and adjust quickly to changing priorities
• Excellent communication across all levels of the organization
• High level of ownership and accountability
• Data-driven mindset with strong attention to detail

Why This Role Matters

This is a critical leadership role that directly impacts customer satisfaction, plant efficiency, and overall business performance. The right candidate will bring structure, discipline, and clarity to production planning and help scale SMT’s operations.