| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Supply Chain |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | Planning Manager |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 2 to 5 years in production planning or scheduling |
Production Planner job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Production Planner
Department: Supply Chain
Reports to: Planning Manager
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Production Planner decides what the plant makes each day and week, turning the demand and supply plan into a detailed production schedule. They sequence jobs across lines and machines, balance them against capacity and materials, and keep the schedule realistic and stable. The role sits in planning under a planning manager. A good one builds schedules the plant can actually run, keeps changeovers and idle time low, keeps production meeting demand, and re-plans quickly and sensibly when a breakdown, shortage or urgent order disrupts the day.
Key responsibilities
- Build the detailed production schedule across lines and machines from the supply plan.
- Sequence jobs to reduce changeovers, idle time and material waste.
- Balance the schedule against plant capacity, manpower and material availability.
- Release production orders and communicate the schedule to the shop floor.
- Track production against the schedule and adjust for delays and changes.
- Coordinate with material planning so materials are ready for scheduled jobs.
- Re-plan quickly for breakdowns, shortages and urgent customer orders.
- Monitor work-in-progress across the floor and keep it within targets.
- Analyse schedule adherence and steadily improve the planning process.
- Coordinate with production, maintenance and quality on the schedule.
Requirements
- Degree in engineering, production or supply chain
- Knowledge of production scheduling and ERP
- Strong analytical and coordination skills
- 2 to 5 years in production planning or scheduling
KRAs and KPIs for a Production Planner
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Schedule adherence | Production runs to schedule, with adherence above target |
| Capacity use | Plant capacity used efficiently, with low idle and changeover time |
| Demand fulfilment | Schedule meets demand and order dates with minimal stock-outs |
| Work-in-progress | Work-in-progress inventory kept within target |
| Responsiveness | Disruptions re-planned quickly with minimal impact on output |
| Material alignment | Scheduled jobs matched to available materials |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: ERP such as SAP PP, Scheduling tools, MS Excel, Advanced planning systems, Shop floor systems.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Planning Manager, Supply Chain Manager
Interview questions for a Production Planner
- How do you build a production schedule that the plant can actually run?
- How do you sequence jobs to reduce changeovers and idle time?
- A machine breaks down mid-shift. How do you re-plan?
- How do you handle an urgent order that disrupts the schedule?
- How do you make sure materials are ready for your scheduled jobs?
- How do you keep work-in-progress inventory under control?
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What does a production planner do?
A production planner decides what the plant makes each day and week, turning the demand and supply plan into a detailed production schedule. They sequence jobs across lines and machines, balance them against capacity and materials, and keep the schedule realistic and stable. They re-plan quickly when a breakdown, shortage or urgent order disrupts the day.
What is the difference between a production planner and a material planner?
A production planner schedules what the plant makes and when, sequencing jobs across lines and capacity. A material planner makes sure the materials for those jobs are ordered and available. Production planning schedules the output; material planning feeds it with inputs. The two work closely so scheduled jobs always have their materials ready.
What skills does a production planner need?
A production planner needs production scheduling, sequencing and capacity planning skills, plus a good link to supply and material planning and strong ERP knowledge. Data analysis and attention to detail matter for building realistic schedules. Problem solving is key, since breakdowns, shortages and urgent orders force fast, sensible re-planning almost every day.