Question 1

What does a production planner do in Australia?

Accepted Answer

A production planner creates and maintains production schedules to meet customer demand while optimising resource utilisation. They analyse production capacity, coordinate material requirements (MRP), process customer orders, prioritise production runs, liaise between sales, procurement and production teams, and generate production reports and KPI tracking. Under the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 (MA000010), production planners are typically classified at Level C3-C5 (Technical/Administrative Employee), though senior planning roles may be award-free depending on duties and responsibilities.

Question 2

What award covers production planners in Australia?

Accepted Answer

Production planners in manufacturing may be covered by the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 (MA000010) at technical/administrative employee classifications. However, senior production planning roles performing complex analytical work may be award-free depending on their duties and level of responsibility. Always verify which award (if any) applies to your specific production planning position.

Question 3

What classification level should I use for a production planner?

Accepted Answer

Under the Manufacturing Award 2020, production planners typically fall under Level C3-C5 (Technical/Administrative Employee) depending on the complexity of their planning responsibilities, systems used, and level of autonomy. Level C3 applies to planners working under supervision, C4 for experienced planners with moderate autonomy, and C5 for senior planners managing complex scheduling. Senior planning roles may be award-free. Classification depends on the specific duties and organisational structure.

Question 4

Should I include pay rates in a production planner job description?

Accepted Answer

While not legally required, including indicative pay rates helps attract suitable candidates and sets clear expectations. You can reference the applicable award rate or use phrases like 'Award rates' or 'Competitive salary based on experience.' For award-free positions, market salary ranges are typically provided. Check the Manufacturing Award 2020 for current technical/administrative classification rates if the role is award-covered.

Question 5

What qualifications do production planners need in Australia?

Accepted Answer

Production planners typically require previous production planning or scheduling experience, along with strong computer skills including ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle, MYOB) and advanced Excel. Certificate IV or Diploma in Supply Chain Management is preferred, with a degree in Business or Operations Management preferred for senior roles. Understanding of manufacturing processes and capacity planning is essential.

Question 6

How long does it take to get a qualification in Supply Chain Management?

Accepted Answer

A Certificate IV in Supply Chain Operations typically takes 6-12 months to complete. A Diploma of Supply Chain Management takes 12-18 months. Both can be studied full-time, part-time, or through workplace-based training. A Bachelor degree in Business or Operations Management typically takes 3 years full-time. These qualifications cover production planning, inventory management, logistics and supply chain optimisation.

Question 7

What ERP/MRP systems should production planners know?

Accepted Answer

Common ERP/MRP systems in Australian manufacturing include SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, MYOB Advanced Manufacturing, and Epicor. Experience with at least one major ERP system is highly valued. Production planners also need advanced Excel skills for data analysis, scheduling models and reporting. Many manufacturers provide system-specific training for their chosen platform.

Question 8

What is the difference between a production planner and a production scheduler?

Accepted Answer

The terms are often used interchangeably, though production planners typically focus on longer-term capacity planning, material requirements and demand forecasting, while production schedulers focus on detailed day-to-day or week-to-week scheduling of specific production runs. Larger manufacturers may have separate planning and scheduling roles, while smaller operations combine both functions.

Question 9

Should I hire full-time or permanent production planners?

Accepted Answer

Production planners are typically hired as permanent full-time employees due to the need for continuity in production scheduling and the time required to learn company-specific processes, products and systems. Some manufacturers may use contract planners for short-term projects or system implementations. See our guide on casual vs permanent employment trends.

Question 10

What penalty rates apply to production planners?

Accepted Answer

If covered by the Manufacturing Award 2020, production planners receive penalty rates for work performed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Most planning roles work regular business hours, though some manufacturers require planners to work extended hours during peak periods. Use award interpretation software to calculate rates accurately based on the specific classification level.

Question 11

What are typical working hours for production planners?

Accepted Answer

Production planners typically work regular business hours Monday to Friday, usually 8am-5pm or similar. However, they may need to work extended hours during peak production periods, month-end, or when resolving urgent scheduling issues. Some manufacturers with 24/7 operations may require planners to be on-call or available to respond to production issues outside normal hours. Working hours should be clearly defined in the employment contract.

Question 12

What should I include in a production planner employment contract?

Accepted Answer

Key elements include: position title and classification level (C3-C5 if award-covered, or award-free status), employment type, hourly rate or salary, applicable award (if any), reporting structure, key responsibilities, required systems proficiency (ERP/MRP), working hours and any on-call expectations, KPI measures, and required qualifications. Use our digital employment contracts to simplify this process.

Question 13

Do production planners need rostering software?

Accepted Answer

Yes, production planners work closely with rostering data to ensure adequate staffing for production schedules. Integration between production planning systems and rostering software helps planners understand labour availability, schedule production runs when sufficient staff are available, and coordinate planned maintenance or changeovers during lower staffing periods.

Question 14

How do production planners coordinate with production schedules?

Accepted Answer

Production planners create schedules based on customer orders, material availability and production capacity - but must also consider labour availability. They need visibility of staff rosters to ensure adequate skilled workers are scheduled when planning production runs. Effective coordination requires regular communication between planners, supervisors and HR/rostering teams.

Question 15

What breaks are production planners entitled to?

Accepted Answer

Under the Manufacturing Award 2020 (if applicable), employees are entitled to meal breaks and paid rest breaks based on their shift length. Production planners working in office environments typically have standard break entitlements. As office-based staff, they have flexibility in managing their break times while maintaining availability for production coordination.

Question 16

How do I schedule production planners for coverage?

Accepted Answer

Most manufacturing facilities require continuous planning support during business hours. For single-planner operations, consider cross-training production supervisors or operations managers to handle urgent planning issues when the planner is unavailable. Larger operations may have multiple planners covering different production areas or shifts. Use rostering software to coordinate planning coverage and track availability.

Production planner job description