Position Summary

The Senior Planning & Scheduling Manager will lead the transformation of production planning and scheduling for a high-mix, low-volume, build-to-order wire-harness manufacturing operation. The role converts customer demand and the Master Production Schedule (MPS) into realistic, executable production schedules based on all manufacturing constraints.

The role is a key leader in the implementation and adoption of Manufacturing Execution System (MES) capabilities. It establishes the processes, data discipline, and execution routines needed to improve On-Time Delivery (OTD), schedule attainment, production visibility, and customer responsiveness.

Key ResponsibilitiesProduction Planning & Detailed Scheduling

- Own the end-to-end planning and scheduling process (customer demand → MPS → material/capacity validation → detailed production schedule → shop-floor execution), translating the MPS into executable daily and weekly schedules.
- Develop schedules that consider:
- Material availability
- Labor and skill constraints
- Equipment and tooling availability
- Production routings
- Work-center capacity
- WIP
- Customer priorities
- Engineering changes
- Quality constraints
- Apply finite-capacity scheduling and constraint management to establish realistic production commitments.
- Manage schedule changes, expedites, priority conflicts, and constraint recovery, reducing dependency on reactive expediting through better planning accuracy and execution discipline.
- Establish appropriate frozen periods, planning horizons, and scheduling rules for the operation.
- Improve alignment between Planning, Materials, Production, Engineering, Quality, Customer Service, and Supply Chain, partnering directly with functional peers and escalating only when appropriate.

OTD & Schedule Attainment

- Drive sustained improvement in OTD and schedule attainment.
- Establish daily and weekly performance management for:
- OTD
- Schedule attainment
- Past-due orders
- Production plan stability
- Expedites
- Schedule misses by category: material, capacity, and planning/scheduling
- Identify orders at risk before they become late and lead cross-functional recovery plans.
- Establish clear accountability for production schedule misses and recovery actions.

MES & Digital Manufacturing Transformation

- Serve as a key business leader for MES implementation and adoption, translating planning and scheduling requirements into system functionality and business processes.
- Define requirements related to:
- Production scheduling
- Dispatching and work-center priorities
- WIP visibility
- Routing
- Production order status
- Labor reporting
- Standard versus actual hours
- Capacity visibility
- Production transactions
- Schedule attainment
- Exception management
- Partner with Operations, IT, Engineering, Materials,



and system implementation teams to ensure MES supports the presente manufacturing process.
- Establish the master-data and transactional discipline required for reliable planning and scheduling.
- Ensure the organization does not simply automate an ineffective process: redesign and standardize the process before or alongside system implementation.

Structured Root-Cause Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement

- Create a structured process to identify and eliminate the causes of OTD and schedule-attainment failures, using Pareto analysis, 5 Why, Fishbone analysis, A3 problem solving, Lean / Six Sigma, constraint analysis, and daily management.
- Apply a disciplined cycle: Performance gap → Root cause → Corrective action → Owner → Due date → Verification → Standardization.
- Use data to distinguish recurring systemic problems from isolated events, and drive permanent corrective actions rather than relying on escalation or expediting.

Leadership & Organizational Development

- Lead, coach, and develop the Planning and Scheduling organization, setting clear roles, responsibilities, expectations, and accountability.
- Develop the team's capability in detailed scheduling, capacity analysis, system utilization, root-cause analysis, and data-based decision making, building appropriate delegation and decision-making capability.
- Create a culture focused on customer commitment, ownership, fact-based problem solving, and continuous improvement.
- Communicate professionally with senior leadership, customers, corporate functions, and cross-functional partners, representing Planning as a solution-oriented business partner rather than a reporting or escalation function.

QualificationsRequired

- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Engineering, Business, or related field.
- 8-10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing planning, scheduling, materials, or supply chain, including 5+ years of leadership experience in production planning and/or scheduling.
- Demonstrated experience in a high-mix, low-volume environment with Build-to-Order (BTO) and/or Make-to-Order (MTO) manufacturing.
- Hands-on expertise translating MPS into detailed production schedules.
- Strong understanding of MPS/MRP, capacity planning, finite scheduling, material planning, shop-floor execution, production constraints, and inventory and WIP management.




- Demonstrated success improving OTD, schedule attainment, past-due performance, or related manufacturing KPIs.
- Experience implementing or significantly improving MES, ERP, APS, or comparable manufacturing planning/execution systems.
- Strong structured problem-solving, continuous-improvement, and analytical skills, with the ability to convert data into actionable decisions.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional problem solving across Operations, Materials, Engineering, Quality, IT, and Customer Service.
- Professional proficiency in English and Spanish, including the ability to communicate effectively with corporate teams and customers.

Preferred

- Direct experience in wire harness, cable assembly, electrical assembly, or similar high-complexity manufacturing (high labor content, large SKU populations, material constraints, frequent engineering changes, and complex routings).
- Experience participating in or leading MES implementation, ideally with Siemens MES/MOM or Opcenter, VAI, SAP, or comparable MES/ERP/APS platforms.
- WMS and warehouse/material-flow experience.
- APICS CPIM or CSCP certification.
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.

Key Success Measures

- On-Time Delivery: target trajectory toward 95%+, with a longer-term objective of 98% where operationally achievable.
- Schedule attainment: establish baseline and drive toward 90-95%+ consistently.
- Reduction in past-due customer orders.
- Reduction in reactive expedites and schedule changes.
- Improved visibility and categorization of schedule misses, and reduction of recurring material, capacity, and planning-related disruptions.
- Improved scheduling process standardization.
- Successful MES planning/scheduling process design, implementation, and user adoption.
- Improved planner/scheduler capability and accountability.

Critical Leadership Competencies

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

- Customer-first mindset
- Strong ownership and accountability
- Hands-on leadership
- High sense of urgency without creating organizational chaos
- Ability to challenge assumptions constructively
- Strong cross-functional influence, resolving problems through collaboration before escalation
- Strategic thinking combined with operational execution
- Ability to make decisions with incomplete but sufficient information
- Strong change-management capability

Job Type: Full-time

Application Question(s):

- Have you led production scheduling in a high-mix, low-volume, build-to-order manufacturing environment (e.g., wire harness) while also implementing an MES? Please share the company, your role, the size of the operation, and the main improvements you delivered in on-time delivery or execution discipline.
- Monthly salary expectation

Work Location: In person

📌 Senior Planning & Scheduling Manager (México)
🏢 Kauffman Engineering
📍 México