Production Planner / Scheduler

The Fresh Factory; Downers Grove (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Paid time off

Retirement benefits

Job summary

The Fresh Factory, a leading food and beverage manufacturer in Downers Grove, Illinois, is seeking a Production Planner / Scheduler to balance demand with capacity across multiple lines. You will manage orders, create and adjust jobs in Plex ERP, and collaborate with Procurement, Sales, Quality, and Operations to meet OTIF goals.

The ideal candidate has 2–5 years of planning experience, strong Excel and ERP skills, and the ability to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years of production planning, scheduling, or material requirements planning experience in fast-paced manufacturing.
• Experience with Plex ERP/MRP systems.
• Advanced Excel skills, including lookups, pivot tables, and data analysis.
• Experience managing production schedules across capacity-constrained lines.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to adjust quickly to changing production requirements and disruptions.
• Strong communication and cross-department coordination.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain production plans and schedules across multiple manufacturing lines, balancing demand with capacity and resources.
• Review incoming orders, forecasts, and production requirements to determine achievable schedules.
• Evaluate and approve production dates and revisions based on capacity and materials.
• Create, sequence, and maintain production jobs within Plex ERP.
• Coordinate with Sales and Customer Operations when delivery dates need adjustment.
• Monitor OTIF performance and schedule attainment.
• Track capacity utilization, changeover efficiency, and waste; identify bottlenecks.
• Use Excel, ERP reporting, and AI tools to improve scheduling efficiency.
• Collaborate across Planning, Procurement, Sales, Quality, Maintenance, and Operations.

Skills

Production planning

Analytical

Communication

Problem solving

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain/Operations/Business

ASCM/APICS certification

Tools

Plex ERP

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The Fresh Factory is a leading food and beverage manufacturing partner specializing in fresh, clean-label, and better-for-you products. With vertically integrated capabilities in product development, manufacturing, fulfillment, and logistics, we help brands grow from concept to national distribution.

Our SQF-certified facilities support a wide range of products, including healthy snacks, sauces, dressings, dips, spreads, cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and functional beverages. We're committed to building long-term partnerships with innovative brands while maintaining a strong focus on quality, sustainability, and operational excellence.

Role Summary

The Production Planner / Scheduler is responsible for developing and executing production schedules across multiple manufacturing lines. This position balances customer demand, manufacturing capacity, labor, material availability, and operational constraints to ensure efficient production and on-time, in-full (OTIF) delivery.

The role manages incoming orders, production job creation and revisions within Plex ERP, and day-to-day schedule adjustments resulting from equipment downtime, ingredient shortages, and changing customer priorities. Success requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and close collaboration with Procurement, Sales, Quality, and Operations.

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning & Scheduling

• Develop and maintain production plans and schedules across multiple manufacturing lines, balancing customer demand with available capacity and resources.
• Review incoming orders, forecasts, and production requirements to determine achievable manufacturing schedules.
• Evaluate and approve production dates and order revisions based on capacity, material availability, and operational constraints.
• Create, sequence, and maintain production jobs within Plex ERP, ensuring accurate scheduling information from order intake through completion.
• Coordinate with Sales and Customer Operations when production commitments or delivery dates need to be adjusted.

Production Optimization & Material Readiness

• Optimize production sequences to minimize changeovers, downtime, and unnecessary labor or equipment inefficiencies.
• Incorporate allergen management, sanitation requirements, ingredient expiration dates, and shelf-life considerations into production schedules.
• Coordinate with Procurement and Inventory teams to confirm ingredient and packaging availability before production.
• Identify material shortages, supplier delays, equipment downtime, and other constraints that could affect scheduled production.
• Develop recovery schedules when disruptions occur while minimizing impacts on customer commitments.

Production Execution & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor production execution and work with Operations to support OTIF performance.
• Maintain accurate production schedules, job statuses, and manufacturing data within Plex ERP.
• Track schedule attainment, capacity utilization, changeover efficiency, and production-related waste.
• Use Excel, ERP reporting, and approved AI tools to analyze production data, identify bottlenecks, and improve scheduling efficiency.
• Collaborate with Planning, Procurement, Sales, Quality, Maintenance, and Operations to proactively resolve scheduling conflicts and improve operational performance.

Required Qualifications

• 2–5 years of production planning, scheduling, or material requirements planning experience in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.
• Experience with manufacturing ERP/MRP systems, preferably Plex.
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including lookups, pivot tables, and data analysis.
• Experience managing production schedules across capacity‑constrained manufacturing lines.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to adjust quickly to changing production requirements, material shortages, and operational disruptions.
• Strong communication skills and ability to coordinate across multiple departments.
• Comfortable working in a high‑volume manufacturing environment where priorities can change throughout the day.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business, or a related field.
• ASCM/APICS certification (CPIM or CSCP).
• Food or beverage manufacturing experience, including familiarity with allergen management, HACCP, sanitation, and shelf‑life requirements.
• Hands‑on Plex ERP experience, including PRP workflows and production job management.
• Experience using AI‑powered analytical tools or automation to improve scheduling, reporting, or operational processes.
• Conversational Spanish.
• Base Salary: $65,000–$95,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.
• Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement benefits, and paid time off.

Why Join The Fresh Factory?

At The Fresh Factory, you'll be part of a growing organization helping innovative food and beverage brands bring better‑for‑you products to market. You'll play a critical role in ensuring our manufacturing operations run efficiently, customer commitments are met, and our production capabilities continue to scale. We offer a collaborative environment, opportunities for professional growth, and a comprehensive benefits package.