Production Scheduler - Printing Manufacturing

About the role

Autajon Packaging Thoro, based in Southern California near the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, is seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Production Scheduler to join our printing manufacturing team. In this role, you will serve as the operational backbone of our shop floor, translating customer orders into executable production plans while balancing competing priorities to drive on-time delivery without sacrificing quality or efficiency.

You will collaborate closely with production supervisors, press operators, prepress, finishing, and the sales team to ensure smooth workflow across all departments. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy solving complex scheduling challenges, we encourage you to apply.

Autajon Packaging Thoro has over 50 years of award-winning experience in innovative folding carton design and manufacturing, serving industries such as Medical, Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic, and Health & Beauty. We are ISO certified and utilize state-of-the-art technologies to meet the strictest standards of excellence.

Responsibilities

• Scheduling & Production Planning
  • Build and maintain daily and weekly production schedules across all departments (prepress, press, finishing, shipping), balancing job priorities, due dates, and available capacity.
  • Manage multiple scheduling constraints, including:
    • Raw material availability (substrates, inks, plates, consumables)
    • Manpower and shift coverage
    • Machine compatibility and tooling requirements (dies, cylinders, screens)
    • Workflow sequencing and inter-department dependencies
    • Known bottlenecks and capacity-constrained resources
  • Proactively identify and resolve scheduling conflicts before they impact production, escalating when necessary.
  • Coordinate rush jobs and last-minute changes without disrupting the broader schedule.
• ERP & Data Management
  • Manage job processes, routing, work order release, and status updates within the company ERP system.
  • Use ERP, daily meetings, and additional tools to make informed scheduling decisions.
  • Maintain accurate job data to ensure reliable production reports, on-time delivery metrics, and capacity utilization data.
  • Flag ERP data quality issues and work with the team to correct root causes.
• Cross-Functional Communication
  • Serve as the primary scheduling liaison between the production floor and the sales team, providing realistic commit dates and managing expectations.
  • Conduct daily or shift-based schedule reviews with production supervisors and department leads.
  • Proactively communicate capacity constraints and booking windows to sales for accurate lead time quoting.
  • Escalate scheduling risks clearly and concisely to management, with proposed solutions.
• Continuous Improvement
  • Participate in process improvement efforts related to scheduling, identifying bottlenecks, workflow inefficiencies, and systemic planning challenges.
  • Collaborate with the team to develop and implement better scheduling practices, templates, or tools.
  • Document scheduling logic for repeat customer processes, specialized job types, and known constraints to build institutional knowledge.
  • Contribute to a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Required Experience
  • Minimum 2–4 years of experience in a manufacturing environment in a scheduling, production planning, or production support role.
  • Hands-on experience working with an ERP system (e.g., EFI Pace/Monarch, Printsmith, SAP, Epicor, or similar) in a production context.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple jobs simultaneously under time pressure.
• Required Knowledge & Skills
  • Strong understanding of production scheduling principles: capacity planning, constraint management, sequencing, and prioritization.
  • Ability to optimize overall plant performance, not just individual jobs.
  • Solid proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including building and interpreting production schedules, pivot tables, and job analysis reports.
  • Excellent communication skills for both shop floor personnel and customer-facing sales staff.
  • Strong problem-solving mindset with a bias toward action and collaboration.
• Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience in a commercial printing, packaging, or label manufacturing environment.
  • Familiarity with printing-specific constraints: press makeready times, color sequencing, substrate compatibility, drying/curing cycles, and bindery/finishing workflows.
  • Experience working with visual scheduling tools or production boards (physical or digital).
  • Exposure to lean manufacturing, Theory of Constraints, or similar continuous improvement methodologies.

Benefits

• Competitive pay range: $28–$35/hour.
• Comprehensive and affordable health insurance plans (eligible day one).
• Paid Time Off (PTO).
• 401(k) with company match.
• Various employee benefit plans.
• Opportunities for professional and personal growth within the company.

Autajon is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other legally protected characteristics.