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Job Description
Brad Foote Gear Works, a division of Broadwind Inc., is a precision manufacturer of gears, gearboxes, and other high precision components for critical applications across a number of industries. We offer a competitive salary along with a full package of benefits and rewards. Brad Foote Gear Works is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. To learn more, please visit our website at www.bwen.com . Brad Foote Gear Works is hiring a Master Scheduler to join our team in Cicero, IL. The Master Scheduler role is a decision-making role, not clerical; it will require deep manufacturing understanding and includes Executive visibility and ownership of plant-wide scheduling performance. Given the level of this role, the selected individual will have the ability to influence capacity and capital planning decisions and have a direct impact on customer delivery performance.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Develop and maintain the Master Production Schedule (MPS) across all product lines and work centers Balance demand, capacity, and material availability to create executable schedules Establish schedule policies including time fences, frozen zones, and planning horizons Lead the monthly Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) process Facilitate cross-functional consensus on demand, supply, and capacity plans Provide executive-level reporting on: demand vs. capacity gaps; backlog health; revenue forecast alignment Drive decisions on outsourcing, overtime, and capital investment needs Conduct detailed capacity analysis by work center, machine, and labor skill set Identify and manage constraints (machining centers, heat treat, inspection, etc.) Develop mitigation strategies: load leveling, alternate routings, subcontracting Partner with Operations on bottleneck elimination Drive system discipline and data accuracy (BOMs, routings, calendars) Lead continuous improvement of scheduling tools (finite scheduling systems, Advanced Planning & Scheduling (APS)) Partner with Sales on realistic promised dates and backlog prioritization Work closely with Supply Chain to ensure material availability Coordinate with Production / Operations for schedule execution and issue resolution Collaborate with Finance on inventory targets and working capital Track and improve key
KPIs:
On-time delivery), schedule adherence, lead time reduction Lead root cause analysis on schedule misses and systemic issues Drive Lean / CI initiatives related to flow, batching, and planning efficiency All other duties as assigned 7+ years of production scheduling experience in a complex machining or discrete manufacturing environment Demonstrated expertise in finite capacity scheduling across constrained resources (machines, labor, outside processing) Deep understanding of multi-level BOMs, routings, and shop floor execution Strong ERP/APS capability (TCM, SAP, Oracle, or equivalent), with the ability to audit and improve system scheduling logic Proven ability to balance demand vs. capacity and drive executable schedules in a high-mix, low-volume environment Hands-on knowledge of machining operations (CNC, grinding, gear cutting, or similar) Experience coordinating with unionized production teams and frontline supervisors Advanced analytical skills (Excel, Power BI, or equivalent) with ownership of KPIs such as OTD, schedule adherence, and WIP Ability to perform rapid scenario planning and schedule recovery in response to disruptions Strong cross-functional leadership skills—able to align production, engineering, supply chain, and sales
