Production Planning Scheduler

Production Planning Scheduler

Howmet Aerospace in Branford, CT is currently hiring highly motivated and energetic candidates to join their team. Howmet Aerospace is a leading provider of advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries worldwide. The Branford facility is focused on producing jet engine components that are essential for mission-critical performance and efficiency in aerospace and defense applications. With over 50 years of experience in the Branford facility, we are proud to contribute to the development of more fuel-efficient, quieter aerospace engines, and sustainable ground transportation. For more information, please visit www.howmet.com.

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Job Summary

We are currently looking for a candidate to fill the role of Production Planning & Scheduler. The Production Planning & Master Scheduler is responsible for developing, maintaining, and executing a valid Master Production Schedule (MPS) that balances customer demand, manufacturing capacity, labor resources, equipment availability, material readiness, and inventory objectives.

Job Roles

• Anticipation and Forecasting—Understands manufacturing operations, customer demand, equipment capability, labor availability, and production rhythms; develops realistic production plans that align customer requirements with plant capacity; proactively identifies risks and adjusts schedules to minimize delivery impacts.
• Measurement Oriented—Ensures schedule attainment, throughput, on-time delivery, inventory control, and capacity utilization through data-driven planning; monitors KPIs and adjusts production plans based on business priorities.
• Relationship and Communication—Builds strong relationships across Customer Service, Production, Engineering, Quality, Purchasing, Shipping, and Supply Chain; communicates priorities clearly and aligns stakeholders to meet customer commitments.
• Organization and Structure—Maintains accurate production schedules, planning parameters, and system data; coordinates multiple products, departments, and priorities while minimizing disruptions to manufacturing operations.
• Systems Thinker—Understands how manufacturing processes interact across the plant; balances labor, equipment, material, outside processing, and customer priorities to optimize overall plant performance.
• Ownership—Takes ownership of the Master Production Schedule and customer commitments; follows issues through resolution and promotes accountability across all departments.
• Balanced Attention—Balances customer demand with plant capability; prioritizes work based on business impact while maintaining schedule stability and resource utilization.
• Influence—Leads planning discussions without direct authority; presents data and recommendations that drive sound business decisions and cross-functional alignment.
• Solution Seeker—Identifies production constraints, evaluates alternatives, and develops recovery plans to minimize customer impact and improve operational performance.
• Continuous Improvement—Continuously improves planning processes, ERP accuracy, scheduling methods, and production flow while reducing lead times and waste.
• Business Acumen—Understands the financial and operational impact of scheduling decisions; supports business objectives through effective planning, inventory management, and customer service.

Responsibilities

The Production Planning & Master Scheduler is responsible for developing, maintaining, and executing a valid Master Production Schedule (MPS) that balances customer demand, manufacturing capacity, labor resources, equipment availability, material readiness, and inventory objectives. The position serves as the central planning function between Customer Service, Production, Engineering, Quality, Purchasing, Supply Chain, and Shipping to ensure customer commitments are achieved while maximizing plant performance.

• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve the Master Production Schedule to support customer requirements and business objectives.
• Perform rough-cut and detailed capacity planning to identify manufacturing constraints and recommend corrective actions.
• Balance production requirements across furnaces, coating operations, laser weld, inspection, outside processing, and other manufacturing resources.
• Monitor Work-in-Process (WIP) and adjust schedules to improve production flow and reduce lead times.
• Review production priorities daily with supervisors and coordinate recovery plans for schedule deviations.
• Develop realistic customer commit dates based on material availability, labor, equipment capacity, and manufacturing constraints.
• Coordinate with Purchasing to resolve material shortages and support supplier performance.
• Support Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) by providing production forecasts, capacity analysis, and schedule recommendations.
• Identify production bottlenecks and recommend overtime, outsourcing, or resource adjustments to maintain customer commitments.
• Maintain accurate ERP planning parameters including lead times, lot sizes, routing information, and planning data.
• Provide management with production status, schedule attainment, capacity utilization, and forecast updates.
• Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Production to minimize disruptions and improve schedule execution.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that improve schedule accuracy, throughput, inventory performance, and on-time delivery.
• Ensure compliance with company planning procedures, policies, and manufacturing standards.

 

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's degree from an accredited institution; and experience which has provided both theoretical and practical knowledge in the field.
• Two (2) years of work experience involved with production planning and scheduling in manufacturing.
• Enterprise Resource Planning or Material Resource Planning experience is required
• Demonstrated capability working with Microsoft Office suite of products; proficient in Excel formulas, look-ups and pivot tables.
• Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• This position entails access to export-controlled items and employment offers are conditioned upon an applicant's ability to lawfully obtain access to such items.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution; and experience which has provided both theoretical and practical knowledge in the field.
• 5+ years Production Planning/Scheduling experience with 2+ of those years being in manufacturing.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Production and Processing – Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Salary & Benefits

• Compensation based on experience.
• Benefit package includes, Medical, Dental, Vision, Vacation and more - eligible from day one.
• Excellent 401K benefits vested from day one.