What does a production planner do?

Production planners are crucial for optimising production processes by efficiently coordinating manufacturing activities. They ensure a seamless operation of manufacturing processes, optimal resource utilisation and timely delivery of products. In the context of the Indian manufacturing landscape, their responsibilities are particularly crucial due to the diverse production needs and the dynamic nature of the market.

A production planner is responsible for coordinating production schedules, inventory management and collaborating with various teams to meet production goals efficiently. They also help in demand forecasting, create schedules and monitor stock levels to prevent shortages or excesses.

These professionals are essential for companies in India due to the need for streamlined production operations and efficient supply chain management. The role of production planners also entails planning and scheduling production activities, which is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge, meeting customer expectations and contributing to the growth of the manufacturing sector.

While production planners and schedulers may seem similar, they differ in their job functions. While the former is responsible for the overall production planning and scheduling of a company’s products, the latter oversees the day-to-day scheduling of production operations. Production planner jobs may also overlap with production controller and production engineer.

Job Description: Template

We are looking for a skilled and experienced production planner to join us at [Company X].

As a crucial member of our manufacturing unit, you will coordinate and optimise production schedules to meet customer demand while having cost-effective inventory management. You will also ensure efficient and timely production of goods while minimising production costs. Your role entails managing stock levels and providing timely product delivery to our clients and customers.

We are looking for detail-oriented and strategic professionals passionate about optimising production processes and ensuring efficient resource utilisation. If you have a proven track record in production planning, inventory management and coordinating manufacturing schedules, we invite you to join our team.

We offer competitive compensation, a collaborative work environment and opportunities for professional growth.

Objectives of this role

  • Developing and implementing production plans to meet customer demand while optimising resource utilisation.
  • Collaborating with production teams, supply chain and sales to understand data from demand forecasting and plan production requirements.
  • Analysing and assessing inventory levels to ensure optimal stock levels and prevent shortages or excesses.
  • Creating and maintaining production schedules, considering lead times, production capacities and resource constraints.
  • Coordinating with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of raw materials and components.

Your tasks

  • Review and analyse demand forecasting data to plan production schedules with our sales and marketing teams.
  • Collaborate with production teams to understand capacity, resource availability and production capacity to create accurate schedules.
  • Coordinate with purchasing teams to ensure timely procurement of raw materials and components.
  • Monitor production progress and adjust schedules as needed, to meet changing demands.
  • Communicate production schedules and changes to relevant teams and stakeholders.
  • Identify and implement process improvements to enhance production efficiency.
  • Analyse data and generate reports on production performance and inventory metrics.
  • Stay updated on industry trends, production technologies and best practices in production planning.

Required skills and qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, or similar.
  • 3+ years of demonstrable experience in the production planning and scheduling field.
  • Solid understanding of production processes, inventory management and supply chain management processes in the Indian business landscape.
  • Proficiency in using production planning software and ERP systems.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration with cross-functional teams.
  • Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
  • Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively in a dynamic environment.
  • Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
  • Multilingual proficiency for effective communication in a diverse market.

Preferred skills and qualifications

  • Certification in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) or related certifications.
  • Proficiency in data analysis and reporting tools.
  • Familiarity with supply chain management best practices.
  • Knowledge of production forecasting, capacity planning, and production cost control.
  • Skilled in Microsoft Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).