Engineering Specialist, WIP Scheduler, Ford Energy

In this position, you will manage and improve the end-to-end execution of production orders, work-in-process (WIP), material flow, parts availability, and inventory control in a high-volume manufacturing environment.

You will ensure physical operations and system data remain aligned across MES and ERP platforms; resolve material, scheduling, and inventory discrepancies; and support continuous improvement through reporting, automation, and disciplined process execution.

Responsibilities

• Monitor production orders, WIP, parts availability, inventory levels, open requirements, scheduled receipts, and material usage to ensure alignment with production schedules and operational priorities.
• Develop, maintain, and communicate production, parts, and material schedules based on demand, material availability, and business requirements.
• Coordinate with production, warehousing, logistics, quality, finance, and other internal stakeholders to confirm material availability, delivery timing, and production readiness.
• Track material movement and production-order status through completion, maintaining timely and accurate updates in MES, ERP, and other applicable systems.
• Identify, investigate, and resolve material shortages, overdue materials, excess inventory, inventory discrepancies, and other risks to production continuity; escalate issues and coordinate corrective actions as needed.
• Monitor and control production order creation, execution, completion, and closure in MES and ERP systems to maintain accurate system and operational alignment.
• Perform daily material and WIP reconciliations, verifying that system records align with on-site material and product status through transaction review, accounting review, and physical verification.
• Maintain MES and ERP master data, including bills of material, routings, material records, production orders, and related scheduling information.
• Support inventory accuracy through cycle counts, transaction reviews, discrepancy investigations, and weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual inventory audits.
• Review demand and production changes and adjust material plans, production orders, schedules, and operational priorities as necessary.
• Prepare, maintain, and communicate reports and dashboards related to WIP, inventory, parts status, schedule adherence, work-order performance, material usage, variance adjustments, shortages, and potential production impacts.
• Use reporting and automation tools, including Power BI or similar platforms, to improve visibility, reduce manual work, strengthen data integrity, and support operational decision-making.
• Investigate root causes of recurring issues involving material control, production execution, inventory accuracy, or system integration; implement sustainable corrective actions and process improvements.
• Refine and enforce end-to-end material lifecycle processes, from work-order issuance through production execution, accounting closure, and inventory reconciliation.
• Maintain clear records of schedules, shortages, discrepancies, corrective actions, and resolution status.
• Support cross-functional departments with ordering and tracking replacement parts as needed.
• Follow all company procedures and applicable safety, quality, inventory-control, accounting, and recordkeeping requirements.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Operations, Engineering, or a related field required.
• Experience in production control, WIP scheduling, materials planning, inventory management, parts control, logistics, manufacturing operations, or a related field preferred.
• Experience working with ERP, MES, materials-planning, inventory-management, or production-control systems.
• Proficiency in spreadsheets and business reporting tools; experience with Power BI, automation tools, or similar analytics platforms preferred.
• Strong understanding of production order execution, material flow, inventory transactions, WIP control, and reconciliation processes.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, follow-up, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain accurate records, and work effectively across internal teams in a fast-paced production environment.
• Strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to identify, communicate, and escalate material, scheduling, inventory, and system-data risks.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage
• Paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• Generous vacation time, sick/personal time, and paid holidays, including between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day