PRODUCTION PLANNERS California Occupational Guide Number 271 Interest Area 5-A 1995
THE JOB
PRODUCTION PLANNERS plan and prepare production schedules for manufacturing industrial and commercial products. Planners ensure that products are made efficiently and timely. They must plan monthly production commitments including work-in-process to meet shipment dates. In many firms, the Planner must provide instructions and authorization before production can begin. Other job titles commonly used are: Production Coordinator, Process Planner, Production Scheduler, Production Control Scheduler, Tool Planner, and Assembly Planner.
Duties for Production Planners vary with the size of the firm, type of product, and employer policy. Planners may work with the sales, cost accounting, and purchasing and manufacturing department staffs to develop sales forecasts, which are used to estimate how many items must be manufactured. Planners forecast production for the entire business units, specific programs or jobs, and for each department from the sales forecasts. After sales and production are predicted, Planners draw up master schedules that establish time limits and sequences of manufacturing operations. Next, they determine how, where, and at what cost the product is to be made. Planners then write detailed instructions showing specific operations, where they will be performed, what tools, materials and equipment will be used, and how many workers will be needed.
They provide input to management, reschedule, and/or interface with marketing, sales, production, and engineering managers to reschedule in case of design changes, labor and material shortages, backlogs and other potential schedule interruptions.
Planners check for planning errors during production and recommend corrective action. Planners may also prepare purchase orders. Some employers require Planners to maintain inventories of raw materials and finished products. Planners may reschedule operations to process rush orders or to meet customer needs. Production Planners often represent the company in negotiations with customers. Planners must account for any delays, difficulties, and changes in original cost estimates. Planners develop new programs to improve the production control systems. In some firms, Planners may train new or less experienced production control schedulers.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Production Planners spend most of their time in the office or on manufacturing sites. Most offices have adequate lighting and ventilation. Planners may work closely with sales executives, design engineers, and manufacturing, purchasing, and accounting department staffs. Production Planners work under the constant pressure of tight deadlines and must be able to reschedule production on short notice to meet deadlines.
Some Planners belong to the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS).
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
The following information is from the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division. The figures represent the broad occupational group Industrial Engineers, except Safety, which includes Production Planners.
Estimated number of workers in 1990 24,050 Estimated number of workers in 2005 23,350 Projected Growth 1990-2005 -3% Estimated openings due to separations by 2005 8,090
(These figures do not include self-employment nor openings due to turnover.)
Moderate employment opportunities are expected for this occupation as most employers report only occasional job openings. Most job opportunities will be with expanding or new firms. The increasing complexity of industrial operations and the expansion of automated processes are contributing factors to these additional job opportunities. Other openings will occur as a result of the need to replace workers who leave the occupation.
Most firms report an adequate supply of applicants to meet their hiring needs.
WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS
Most Production Planners with no experience earn beginning wages from $1,275 to $2,200 per month, depending on geographical area and size of industry. Those individuals with at least two years of experience may earn from $1,600 to $2,600 or more. Production Planners with five or more years of experience may earn from $3,400 to $4,300 or more, again depending on geographical area and size or type of industry or business.
The standard workweek is 40 hours from Monday through Friday; however, Production Planners are sometimes required to work overtime to meet deadlines or to complete special orders.
Fringe benefits include paid vacations, holidays, and sick leave. Some companies provide investment plans and may pay educational expenses for job-related courses.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING
Graduation from high school is the minimum requirement for employment as a Production Planner. Some employers require a four-year college degree in business with courses in business administration and data processing. Prospective Planners should take high school courses in machine shop, mathematics and science. Better opportunities exist for those who have good computer and analytical skills. Extremely important is knowledge of fully integrated computer system software. Better hiring opportunities exist for individuals who have prior inventory and production control experience or training, particularly in a process controlled manufacturing operation.
Many employers promote from within by selecting Planners from workers in their manufacturing department, production control department, assembly department, engineering, and machine shop departments. On-the-job training may be available.
ADVANCEMENT
Advancement for Production Planners may be in the form of increased salary, greater responsibility in a larger company, or advancement to a managerial position, supervisory position, or a master scheduler position.
FINDING THE JOB
Applicants who meet the requirements should seek employment opportunities in trade magazines and newspaper advertisements. They should also apply directly to manufacturing firms, private employment agencies, and local Job Service offices of the California Employment Development Department.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
American Production & Inventory Control Society (APICS) Suite 504, Watergate Building 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20037
Local chapters of APICS are located in Torrance, Palo Alto, San Francisco, and Santa Clara.
RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES
Industrial Engineers No. 3 Production and Material Coordinators No. 433
OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th ed., Rev. 1) Industrial Engineer 012.167-030 Production Engineer 012.167-046 Production Planner 012.167-050
OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System Industrial Engineer, except safety 221280
Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
(916) 262-2162.
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