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):

- Monthly salary expectation
- Give me a specific example where you significantly improved OTD or schedule attainment. What was the baseline, what were the major root causes, what actions did you implement, and what was the final result?
- Describe an MES/APS implementation where you personally helped design the planning or scheduling process. What business requirements did you define versus what the system handled?
- When Production misses the schedule because of Materials, Engineering, Quality, or capacity constraints, describe how you identify root cause and drive permanent corrective action across functions.
- Tell me about the most complex high-mix, low-volume operation you scheduled. How many active orders/part numbers did you manage, and how did you convert the MPS into the daily shop-floor schedule?

Work Location: In person

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