Production Planner & Scheduler

Cayuga Milk Ingredients, LLC; City of Auburn (NY); Hybrid; USD 86,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Cayuga Milk Ingredients, LLC is seeking a Production Planner & Scheduler to develop and maintain the Master Production Plan for dairy processing and packaging, ensuring efficient use of raw milk, ingredients, labor, and capacity while meeting customer demand and food safety standards. Under the direction of the Sr.

Director of Operations, you will forecast, balance milk, and schedule across processing, packaging, lab, and warehouse functions to maximize yield, minimize loss, and comply with SQF

Responsibilities

• Maintain the Master Production Plan for dairy processing and packaging based on demand, raw milk supply, capacity, and inventory levels.
• Generate and distribute daily and weekly production schedules to Processing, Packaging, Laboratory, Warehouse, and Blow Mold departments.
• Release production orders and manufacturing work orders through the ERP system to support execution of the production plan.
• Communicate schedule changes promptly to all affected departments to prevent delays, shortages, or excess inventory.
• Plan production to balance daily raw milk intake with finished product requirements and optimize milk component utilization.
• Coordinate processing plans to support efficient fat, protein, and solids utilization across product lines.
• Monitor yields and identify opportunities to improve milk utilization and minimize loss or shrink.
• Work with Processing, Quality, and Operations teams to ensure runs meet specifications and yield targets.
• Align production plans with storage capacity and shelf-life/code-date constraints typical in dairy products.

Job description

Description

Position Title: Production Planner & Scheduler

Reports To: Sr. Director of Operations

FLSA Status: Exempt

Job Grade: 8

Pay Range: $85,750-$110,000

Position Overview:

The Production Planner is responsible for developing and maintaining the production plan for dairy processing and packaging operations to ensure efficient utilization of raw milk, ingredients, labor, and processing capacity while meeting customer demand and regulatory requirements.

Under the direction of the Sr. Director of Operations, this role supports forecasting, milk balancing, and production scheduling across processing, packaging, laboratory, and warehouse functions ensures that raw milk supply is converted into finished dairy products in a manner that maximizes yield, minimizes product loss, and maintains compliance with food safety, quality, and traceability requirements under the SQF Food Safety Management System.

The role requires strong coordination across departments to align milk supply, ingredient availability, packaging materials, storage capacity, and code-date limitations with customer commitments.

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning & Scheduling

• Maintain the Master Production Plan for dairy processing and packaging operations based on demand forecasts, raw milk supply, processing capacity, and inventory levels.
• Generate and distribute daily and weekly production schedules to Processing, Packaging, Laboratory, Warehouse, and Blow Mold departments.
• Release production orders and manufacturing work orders through the ERP system to support execution of the production plan.
• Communicate schedule changes promptly to all affected departments to prevent production delays, material shortages, or excess inventory.

Milk Balancing & Yield Management

• Plan production schedules to balance daily raw milk intake with finished product requirements, ensuring optimal utilization of available milk components.
• Coordinate processing plans to support efficient fat, protein, and solids utilization across product lines.
• Monitor production yields and identify opportunities to improve milk utilization and minimize product loss or shrink.
• Work with Processing, Quality, and Operations teams to ensure production runs support optimal yield recovery and product specifications.
• Align production plans with storage capacity and shelf-life/code-date constraints typical in fluid and cultured dairy products.

Forecasting & Inventory Management

• Maintain forecasts for finished goods, raw milk requirements, ingredients, and packaging materials including bottles, caps, and labels.
• Continuously monitor demand forecasts and adjust production plans to maintain appropriate inventory levels.
• Review ERP system generated manufacturing orders for accuracy prior to release.
• Monitor on-hand inventory levels and coordinate with procurement and warehouse teams to ensure materials are available to support scheduled production.
• Support verification of inventory accuracy through cycle counts and reconciliation activities.

ERP System & Production Control

• Utilize the ERP system to:
  • Generate and manage production schedules