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Production Planner

Also known as: Manufacturing Planner, Production Scheduler, Master Scheduler, Materials and Production Planner

AI Impact Score

52/100

Production planning is a field where AI is making significant inroads — demand forecasting, capacity optimization, and scheduling algorithms are increasingly automated. Planners who understand the systems and can handle exceptions, supplier disruptions, and cross-functional trade-offs will remain valuable as the routine planning work automates.

$52k – $95k

Salary Range

growing

Growth Outlook

125,000

Total Jobs (US)

+7%

Growth Rate

Task Breakdown

Tasks at Risk (4)

Routine production schedule generation from standard demand signalsStandard material requirements planning (MRP) run processingBasic capacity utilization reports and shop floor dashboardsRegular inventory position monitoring and reorder point alerts

AI-Enhanced Tasks (4)

AI-powered demand forecasting incorporating market signals and seasonalityAutomated capacity constraint identification and scenario modelingMachine learning for supplier lead time prediction and safety stock optimizationDynamic scheduling optimization for multi-constraint production environments

Human-Safe Tasks (5)

Supply chain disruption response and alternative sourcing decisionsCross-functional trade-off negotiations (sales, procurement, operations)New product introduction planning and capacity analysisProduction plan changes due to quality holds or engineering changesCustomer escalation management for critical order expediting

Current Skills

Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and Production SchedulingERP Systems (SAP, Oracle, Epicor, Infor)Capacity Planning and Constraint ManagementInventory Management and Safety Stock OptimizationSales and Operations Planning (S&OP) Process

Future-Proof Skills

Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) SoftwareAI-Powered Demand Forecasting ToolsSupply Chain Digital Twins and Scenario ModelingCPIM Certification (APICS/ASCM)