What Do Production and Planning Clerks Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Production and Planning Clerks coordinate and expedite the flow of work and materials within or between departments of an establishment according to production schedule. Duties include reviewing and distributing production, work, and shipment schedules; conferring with department supervisors to determine progress of work and completion dates; and compiling reports on progress of work, inventory levels, costs, and production problems. They also distribute production schedules or work orders to departments.

Other tasks include:

• Review documents, such as production schedules, work orders, or staffing tables, to determine personnel or materials requirements or material priorities.
• Requisition and maintain inventories of materials or supplies necessary to meet production demands.
• Arrange for delivery, assembly, or distribution of supplies or parts to expedite flow of materials and meet production schedules.
• Confer with department supervisors or other personnel to assess progress and discuss needed changes.
• Revise production schedules when required due to design changes, labor or material shortages, backlogs, or other interruptions, collaborating with management, marketing, sales, production, or engineering.
• Confer with establishment personnel, vendors, or customers to coordinate production or shipping activities and to resolve complaints or eliminate delays.

We asked Production and Planning Clerks how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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67% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 40% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Production and Planning Clerks distribute production schedules or work orders to departments. They confer with department supervisors or other personnel to assess progress and discuss needed changes.

A typical day for a Production, Planning and Expediting Clerk will also include:

• Review documents, such as production schedules, work orders, or staffing tables, to determine personnel or materials requirements or material priorities.
• Record production data, including volume produced, consumption of raw materials, or quality control measures.
• Examine documents, materials, or products and monitor work processes to assess completeness, accuracy, and conformance to standards and specifications.
• Compile information, such as production rates and progress, materials inventories, materials used, or customer information, so that status reports can be completed.
• Calculate figures, such as required amounts of labor or materials, manufacturing costs, or wages, using pricing schedules, adding machines, calculators, or computers.

We asked some Production and Planning Clerks a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	91% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	79% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	76% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	29% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	18% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	62% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Production and Planning Clerks also establish and prepare product construction directions and locations and information on required tools, materials, equipment, numbers of workers needed, and cost projections. They may also contact suppliers to verify shipment details.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Production and Planning Clerks Provide documentation and information to account for delays, difficulties, or changes to cost estimates. They might also Maintain files, such as maintenance records, bills of lading, or cost reports.

In addition, they Plan production commitments or timetables for business units, specific programs, or jobs, using sales forecasts.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Compile and prepare documentation related to production sequences, transportation, personnel schedules, or purchase, maintenance, or repair orders.

To some Production and Planning Clerks, it is also their responsibility to Revise production schedules when required due to design changes, labor or material shortages, backlogs, or other interruptions, collaborating with management, marketing, sales, production, or engineering.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Production, Planning and Expediting Clerk, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/office-and-administrative-support/material-recording-clerks.htm

http://www.mhi.org/

http://www.werc.org/