Scheduler/Production Planning

ND Paper; Sturtevant (WI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

ND Paper in Sturtevant, WI is seeking a Scheduler to translate the plant's order book into a daily production schedule. You will optimize corrugator utilization, reduce setup churn, and ensure on-time customer commitments by coordinating with Customer Service, Production, and Shipping.

The role requires close collaboration across converting and corrugator operations, with responsibility for schedule integrity and timely communication of changes to all stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Translates the plant's order book into a daily production schedule.
• Manages corrugator scheduling to maximize run length and minimize changeovers.
• Coordinates with Customer Service, Production, and Shipping to meet commitments.

Responsibilities

• Build and release the daily corrugator schedule with lead time for shift prep.
• Sequence orders to optimize run length, board combinations, and changeovers.
• Manage corrugator capacity against demand and flag constraints to leadership.
• Balance short- and long-term orders to reduce scheduling fragmentation.
• Adjust plans in real time for downtime or order changes and communicate updates.
• Coordinate reworks into the production schedule and align with converting.

Skills

Scheduling

Production planning

Cross-functional coordination

Supply chain

Job description

Job Title: Scheduler

Department: Scheduling/Production Planning

Reports to: General Manager

Location: Sturtevant, WI

Position Summary

The Scheduler is responsible for translating the plant's order book into a daily production schedule that maximizes corrugator utilization, minimizes setup churn, and delivers on customer commit dates. This role sits at the intersection of customer demand, corrugator capacity, and converting line availability - and the decisions made here directly determine whether the plant runs efficiently or reactively.

ND PKG operates a 98\" Fosber corrugator with full converting lines. Corrugator scheduling is the highest-leverage scheduling function in the plant: run sequence, board combination efficiency, and setup frequency have a direct impact on utilization, waste, and on-time delivery. The Scheduler reports directly to the General Manager and coordinates daily with Customer Service, Production, and Shipping.

Compensation

The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate will be based on multiple factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge/skills, experience, geographical location, and internal equity. At ND Paper, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the high end of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.

About Us

ND Paper is a leading manufacturer of high-quality pulp, paper, and packaging products in the United States, generating over half a billion dollars in annual sales. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited - the largest containerboard producer in the world - ND Paper is part of a global network committed to excellence and innovation. With two integrated pulp and paper mills in Rumford, Maine and Biron, Wisconsin, a packaging plant in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, and two sheeting facilities in Langhorne, Pennsylvania and Fairmont, West Virginia, the ND Paper family produces nearly one million tons of products annually. Our 1,100 dedicated employees are the heart of our operations, and we are committed to fostering positive work environments where individuals can advance and thrive. At ND Paper, we are investing in our future, and that starts with our staff.

Key Responsibilities & Expected Results

• Demonstrate safety as a core value and establish a safe work environment by actively leading the safe execution of work.

Corrugator Scheduling

• Build and release the daily corrugator schedule with sufficient lead time for the shift supervisor to prepare - target release before shift startup
• Sequence corrugator orders to maximize run length, minimize setup count, and optimize board combinations across flute profile, liner, and medium changes
• Manage corrugator capacity against order demand - flag capacity constraints to the General Manager before they become delivery misses
• Balance short-run and long-run orders across the week to prevent setup fragmentation on any single shift
• Adjust schedule in real time when corrugator downtime, quality holds, or order changes disrupt the plan - communicate changes immediately to Production and Customer Service
• Coordinate reworks into the production schedule

Converting Schedule

• Schedule converting lines (flexo folder gluers, die cutters, stitcher, bundler, bander) in coordination with corrugator output and converting line capacity
• Sequence converting orders to minimize changeover time and maintain flow from corrugator to finished goods
• Ensure converting schedule aligns with customer ship dates and Shipping's daily load plan
• Coordinate with Production supervisors on converting line availability, downtime, and priority changes
• Coordinate reworks into the production schedule

Order Management & Customer Commit Dates

• Own the commit date for every order in the system - if a date is at risk, the Scheduler identifies it first and escalates proactively
• Coordinate daily with Customer Service on new orders, expedites, and customer-driven date changes
• Provide Customer Service with realistic lead times for new orders based on current capacity and backlog - do not allow unrealistic commitments to be made without scheduling input
• Flag orders that cannot be met on current commit without schedule disruption; elevate to General Manager with options, not just problems

Expedite Management

• Evaluate all expedite requests for feasibility before Customer Service commits to the customer
• Identify the schedule displacement caused by each expedite - what order moves out to accommodate the pull-in, and who needs to know
• Track and reason-code all expedites: customer-driven, plant-driven (quality), plant-driven (downtime), carrier-driven
• Report expedite volume and drivers to the General Manager on a weekly basis

Metrics & Reporting

• Track corrugator utilization, setup count, average run length, and schedule attainment on a daily basis
• Maintain a weekly scheduling report for the General Manager covering utilization trend, expedite rate, and schedule stability
• Identify patterns in scheduling fragmentation - excessive setups, short average run lengths, or repeat expedites on the