Manufacturing Production Planner

Manufacturing production planners have overall responsibility for ensuring that the products made by their company are produced efficiently, cost effectively and to the right quality, ready for delivery to customers. They calculate the best way to use resources, such as materials and staff, for a particular product or contract, and then draw up production plans and prepare flow charts to plan the production schedule. Planners decide what materials will be required and how much they will cost, what machinery will be used, the machine time involved and the number and type of workers needed at each production point.

Production planners usually work between 37 and 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Extra hours may be required at busy times. They may be on call to deal with emergencies outside normal working hours. They are usually based in an office with a PC and a telephone, but also attend meetings elsewhere in the company and spend time on the factory floor. Factory conditions vary according to the type of goods produced. Some are light and clean (and sometimes sterile), while others may be hot, cold, dirty, dusty or noisy.

Salaries range from around £18,000 to over £30,000 a year.

A manufacturing production planner should:

• have excellent organisational skills
• be able to work quickly and accurately and pay attention to detail
• have ICT skills
• understand manufacturing processes
• be able to cope with deadlines and other pressured situations.

Almost every manufacturing company in the UK employs at least one production planner. Large companies often have production teams consisting of several production planners. Employers produce an enormous range of products including food, clothing, pharmaceuticals, engineering, electronics, vehicles and aircraft. Although most factories are in towns and cities, there are some in rural areas.

There are no minimum qualifications to begin training as a production planner. It is possible to start work in another manufacturing role as an apprentice, operative or team leader and gain experience before moving into production management. Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships may be available and the Diploma in engineering and Diploma in manufacturing and product design may be relevant for this area of work. Alternatively, employment could result from a higher education course, such as a foundation degree, BTEC, HNC/HND or a degree in manufacturing.

Trainee production planners usually begin by learning on the job from more experienced colleagues. Larger companies may have management training schemes, which may combine work experience and training in different parts of the organisation.

Experienced production planners, especially if they have the right qualifications, may be promoted to production manager.

Further details