Manufacturing Production Planner
A manufacturing production planner is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of the production process. Duties include a specific focus on the materials and goods required in the production phase, ensuring the working space is properly maintained in order to have optimal performance. Manufacturing production planners may progress to a managerial or executive position depending on the internal organization structure and industry.
Manufacturing companies often employ manufacturing production planners to help plan and manage the facility’s production lines. Production planners have specific skills and education that help them understand production needs and how to plan, manage and implement new methods.
Job Overview
Salary
Workplace
How to Start
Job Overview
What does a Manufacturing Production Planner do?
A manufacturing production planner is a professional who oversees production in a manufacturing plant and helps plan for production needs. They work closely with managers, team members and company executives to identify the production needs of the business and help set quotas and other important metrics for production. They manage, organize and solve problems as they develop, modify and direct production schedules to ensure the timely delivery of products.
Manufacturing production planners coordinate workflows for one or more products. They detail the necessary production equipment, raw materials and labor needs for production. The manufacturing production planner typically submits a report on the product workflow needs and determines the timeframe in which the production staff can finish a product order.
Production Priorities
Manufacturing production planners help identify priority products and operations to optimize workflows and meet order requirements. The production planner decides which products take priority and coordinates the projects’ needs on the production floor.
Communication Skills
Manufacturing production planners typically report to production managers or other supervisory staff. They might take part in production meetings to brainstorm new production methods.
Increase Efficiency
Manufacturing production planners find and study output information during the production process to help make the process more efficient. This includes collecting direct data, using software to collect and analyze production output and studying quality control data.
Problem Solving Skills
Manufacturing production planners also address any issues, setbacks or quality control concerns with the production process. This might include recalling products for quality control or identifying setbacks.
Salary
How much does a Manufacturing Production Planner make?
The average annual salary for a Manufacturing Planner in the United States is $82,437. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $72,444 to $92,978, with most professionals earning between $63,346 and $102,575.
These are 2025 national salary averages and may fluctuate based on location.
Workplace
What does the workplace for a Manufacturing Production Planner look like?
Manufacturing production planners typically work in manufacturing plants or warehouses. Often, planners work a full-time schedule of 40 hours per week. To conduct their duties, planners often work in a variety of locations throughout the day, from the production floor to storage warehouses to an office desk or cubicle. They work both on their feet, walking around the production area, and sitting at a desk. Manufacturing production planners often collaborate with warehouse staff, production and other managers, production staff and quality control departments. They work as a team to create a high-quality, high-efficiency production process for the company. This includes communicating needs, errors or expectations, attending meetings and submitting correct paperwork to each department.How to Start
How to become a Field Applications Engineer?
A bachelor’s degree is preferred by most companies when hiring a manufacturing production planner with most employers expressing value in prior experience in the same position. Other technical certifications such as an American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS) certification also adds value to the position with the most successful candidates having an in-depth knowledge of the industry and technical know-how. Other valuable skills include sharp analytical skills and exceptional organization and time-management abilities.
Typical Qualifications:
- Technical certifications such as an APICS certification preferred
- Prior experience as a production planner in the industry preferred
- Good understanding of the industry market trends and conditions
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Exceptional organizational and time-management skills
- Strong regard for product quality and safety standards
- Sharp analytical and problem-solving skills
