How to become A Production Planner

If preparation is the key to success, then a Production Planner’s inputs unlock the doors to success for various industries. By creating and maintaining effective daily, weekly and monthly manufacturing schedules, Production Planners ensure that production processes run smoothly, meeting deadlines and achieving the company’s short and long-term objectives.

• Production Scheduler
• Production Manager
• Production Executive
• Manufacturing Production Planner
• Manufacturing Planner
• Operations Planner
• Production Control Planner
• Order Planner
• Materials Planner
• Industrial Production Manager
• Warehouse Manager
• Supply Chain Manager

What do Production Planners do?

A Production Planner would typically need to:

• Understand and plan production processes in a manufacturing industry; coordinate production workflow for one or multiple products; generate, post and maintain effective daily and weekly schedules
• Outline the workforce, materials and machinery requirements and their cost, the time estimates, and the quality standards to achieve; schedule and manage production resources to meet production demand
• Optimise the use of resources, both people and material, to maximise company profits employer at minimal manufacturing costs; ensure and improve product quality to help meet company expectations and objectives
• Conduct research, competitor analysis, and studies of industry trends to identify customer needs, develop strategies for optimal operations, and forecast market challenges
• Balance various elements, including work orders or customer requests, expected delivery dates and resource availability, to create an actionable and efficient production schedule, often for multiple lines simultaneously
• Evaluate suppliers in terms of quality and timeliness; monitor material supply flow and identify shortages or bottlenecks; pinpoint and resolve inventory issues 
• Assign workers and other personnel to production operations and shifts to match production needs
• Monitor production performance, resources, and workforce to ensure adherence to schedules, deadlines and budget, based on project expectations; prioritise operations for optimal performance and minimum delay
• Promptly tackle and resolve production issues to minimise disruption to schedules
• Realign schedules to meet deadlines and adapt to situations such as machinery breakdowns or delayed material deliveries; inform relevant departments of any scheduling changes 
• Pinpoint where the manufacturing process can be improved and suggest changes; implement more effective and efficient scheduling and lean production; shift processes to eliminate redundant tasks or combine overlapping ones
• Monitor production standards through evaluating output information, such as the number of finished products and percentage of defectives;
• Implement quality control programs; suggest strategies to increase productivity and reduce production costs while maintaining quality
• Collaborate with quality control, warehouse and other staff; motivate plant personnel to meet production goals and deadlines following company policies and regulations
• Prepare and submit status and performance reports on time, outlining production activities and comparing targeted and actual production levels

Production Planners work primarily in manufacturing plants and factories. The higher you rise, the more office-based your work is likely to become. The factory environment depends on the industry and the product being manufactured. It could be stuffy, warm, noisy and dirty or clear, light and ventilated, air-conditioned or heated.

You may need to travel to the company’s factories and production areas to schedule and manage their manufacturing practices. 

Production Planners typically work 40-hour weeks, Monday to Friday. Given that manufacturing generally takes place round the clock, you may need to work shifts in the evening and night, on the weekends or public holidays. You would spend some time discussing sales, procurement and other relevant business matters with managers. Your work schedule must be flexible to accommodate the needs of manufacturing units and production workers, especially in emergencies. You may also need to put in extended hours to help carry out quality control, meet deadlines or introduce new systems.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Production Planners can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.
Manufacturing companies in varied industries employ Production Planners, although the specific title may vary, and the role may be combined with other functions in smaller companies.

Production Planners are generally employed by:

• Aerospace & Defence
• Automobile Companies
• Chemical Engineering Firms
• Electronics & Electrical Consumer Goods
• Food Processing Firms
• Heavy Engineering Firms
• Pharmaceuticals
• Printing Firms
• Textiles Manufacturers
• Manufacturing Plants
• Logistics & Supply Chain Management Companies
• Shipping & Logistics Companies
• e-Commerce Companies

Professional associations and organisations are crucial for Production Planners interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Striking a balance between over-reliance on desktop planning and spending too much time on the shop floor supervising staff
• Corroborating ERP (enterprise resource planning) calculations with data from  actual manufacturing operations
• The need to determine production capacity, factoring in downtime for machines, sick leave for employees and overtime
• Encouraging preventive maintenance and optimising the balance between production and maintenance
• Establishing and implementing accurate routings (the steps in the manufacturing process and their operation times) at the start of production to prevent ongoing inefficiencies 
• Travelling between a company’s operations on different sites during the day or for extended periods of absence from home, including on visits overseas
• Limited opportunities for self-employment 
• Delays in sourcing, procuring and sampling raw material, which result in delays in sample approval and production 
• Recording and communicating accurate data 
• The risk of the product falling the final QA (quality assurance) inspection

Relevant pre-entry work experience, especially in the industry in which they plan to work, helps aspiring Production Planners understand the operations in the field. Typically, any academic program you undertake to prepare for the career would require a period of supervised experience, such as an internship. You could also opt for a year in industry during your college studies to gain practical skills and build a network.

A vocational course in related fields will help you build practical skills. Student membership of professional organisations will give you access to resources and news of the latest technical developments, which will provide you with a competitive edge in the job market.

Some employers look to hire entry-level candidates and then train them according to the needs of the company. If you enter the field directly from a bachelor’s or master’s degree program, your initial training will familiarise you with the production process, company policies, and safety regulations. In large companies, freshly placed graduates may rotate between departments, a handy method to learn about the company. Several newly hired professionals study business management or opt for company-sponsored classes to prepare for promotion.

The primary qualification for Production Planners at higher levels is several years of work experience in manufacturing management. Some jobs require experience in roles such as customer service representative, production supervisor or administrative assistant. Employers prefer candidates with experience in production techniques. You will also benefit from basic knowledge and experience with standard computer applications, such as spreadsheet software. Employers may wish to see proof of leadership and management experience, both of which may help you bring home a higher salary.

Read about the profession and interview/job shadow experts working in production planning to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

Employers typically look for entry-level candidates with a bachelor’s or associate degree that includes production-related subjects, such as inventory and supply chain management, accounting, and business management. Higher supervisory posts in production planning may need a major in logistics and supply chain management or related subjects. Larger manufacturing units usually look for candidates with a bachelor’s degree in engineering and an MBA (Master of Business Administration). Job interviews typically test your knowledge of manufacturing processes and quality control management. 

Considering the diverse manufacturing industries that employ Production Planners, the specific educational and training requirements vary depending on the industry in which they are employed.

Candidates without a college degree may access junior-level jobs in production planning but may take relatively longer to advance any further. 

Certification demonstrates a Production Planner’s competence in production, quality or inventory management systems, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. When acquired from an objective and reputed organisation, it can help you stand out in a competitive job market, carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 per cent, increase your chances of advancement, and allow you to become an independent consultant. Successful certification programs also protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics. 

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Employees with consistently high levels of performance may be eligible for promotion every two to three years. 

After acquiring a bachelor’s degree, you are likely to land entry-level jobs as production workers, which typically allow you to move up the ranks into first-line supervisory roles and then to become Production Planners working with manufacturing personnel on the shop floor. With adequate experience, you may progress to managerial positions, such as Industrial Production Manager. Be aware that progression is more likely in larger companies than smaller firms. Multinational corporations may allow you to work overseas.

You may choose to specialise in a particular manufacturing industry or branch out into business development and general management. Experience as a Production Planner may also allow you to diversify into long-term policy development & strategic management rather than focus on day-to-day operations. 

Excellent communication and computer skills along with continuing education programs in industrial production, industrial engineering, industrial management, business administration, or supply chain management will enhance your job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Production Planner build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. It allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge, especially as new production and planning processes and systems emerge. 

Production Planners must learn how their company operates before they can write production and work schedules. Many employers, therefore, place you on a formal graduate training scheme, which rotates recruits through various departments, training them in production processes, company policies, and job requirements. Smaller companies may provide on-the-job training supervised by experienced colleagues. Either way, you will typically learn about materials management, inventory control, configuration analysis, production control and purchasing management.

Employers may have structured training programmes in place, offering you practical training placements and periodic refresher programs in business skills. They may encourage you and even support you financially to earn relevant professional credentials or higher academic qualifications, including courses provided by professional bodies, which will boost your career prospects. You may take up certificate courses offered by organisations such as CILT (Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport), choosing the appropriate level of qualification in operations management according to your current or future role. You could also acquire qualifications in general or specific management and leadership.

Other opportunities for professional development may arise if multinational firms put you in charge of establishing and managing production operations overseas.

You may also consider acquiring the Fritz-CILT Humanitarian Certifications, which equip you with the necessary planning and management skills that humanitarian logistics managers require.

Types of Production

There are several types of production methodologies that companies use. Flow production entails identical and standardised products that are mass-produced on assembly lines. Batch production manufactures certain groups of products together, completing one batch before beginning the next. Job production creates one-off or unique products tailored to the customer’s requirements and could be handled by a single person or a group of people.  Process production typically tackles the chemical aspect of processes.

Safety is Key

Workplace safety is paramount to organisational success. Production Planners must be well-versed with workplace safety procedures and carry out scheduling and other activities according to prescribed guidelines. Overuse, misuse, or poorly maintained machines and equipment must be reported to the management, as must be the occurrence of unsafe or rushed activities carried out to meet production targets. Staying alert to the production process, product quality and staff performance is essential in every shift if Production Planners wish to ensure optimal adherence to production planning and control. They must be able to spot potential product defects and make sure that products are correctly assembled. 

Production Orders & Scheduling

Production Planners typically allow a cut off time of three to seven days to give production a green signal to proceed if the production order (PO) has fulfilled the mandatory pre-production requirements and raw materials are available in-house. PO production certificates that verify necessary approvals and material requirements enable planners to schedule the production. A solid network of fabricators is handy for Production Planners to outsource some orders to maintain production plans

Tools of the Trade

Given that Production Planners typically work in offices and on shop floors, they use standard office equipment and software along with production scheduling software, such as Protected Flow and DELMIAworks (formerly IQMS) manufacturing ERP software.

Digital tools used in Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) allow you to visualise potential choices instantly, plan in real-time, and quickly alter plans without disrupting production processes.

Production Planners contribute to securing their company’s fortunes by ensuring that opportunities meet with well-crafted plans. Establishing and implementing work routes and schedules optimises the use of material and human resources and machinery so that production stays in sync with plans and helps the company achieve its targets. 

Invest in enhancing your forecasting tools and methods. Employ advanced analytics or machine learning solutions if you can. Determine and document production capacity by mapping out production operations. Use IT systems to record and share data across the board digitally. Use IoT devices for real-time monitoring of production processes. Use your network of fabricators to outsource some orders when needed. Extend these smart, optimised processes from the factory floor to transport logistics and the outer world.