What does an engineering planner do?
The engineering planner works together with other engineering staff involved in the project to design and work on the project's timeframe while also working on the work schedules of staff. They sometimes become the mediator between on-site engineers and office officials' communication. They keep records of daily and monthly project progress. On-site, they are responsible for observing any discrepancies and recording them for reporting. They work with managers and supervisors at the office to process communication to contractors and subcontractors and allocate budgets meticulously.
Engineering planner responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real engineering planner resumes:
- Work with IPT leads to obtain schedule and cost data to implement in various proposals.
- Lead a cross-function team to participate plant-wide ERP system launch; establish the prototype electrical operations and maintenance activities evaluation system.
- Utilize Catia V4 to maintain and integrate design.
- Participate in weekly integrate production team (IPT) meetings.
- Initiate new tooling concepts and design tools using CATIA V5 software.
- Create tool orders, manufacturing plans, BOM s for note duct assemblies.
- Prepare monthly progress report, cost plan and engineering analysis, projects WBS and PSR.
- Document and notify every department influence by engineering revisions and changes add to the MRP system.
- Create and maintain construction schedules, including WBS and activities set up, costs and resource loading.
- Reconcile EBOM (PDM vs Enovia being the engineering authority) and create MBOM (test-developmental) when require.
- Review the bills of material and manufacturing drawings to determine part and material demand requirements utilizing MRP concepts and principles.
- Verify BOM matches release engineering drawing, and incorporate into all build documents any EO changes to paperwork and hardware as-requir.
- Perform independent network analyses resulting in reports and metrics.
- Conduct investigations, analyze metrics, and facilitate conflict resolution between program and function management positions.
- Lead a cross-function team to participate plant-wide ERP system launch; establish the prototype electrical operations and maintenance activities evaluation system.
Engineering planner skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Engineering Planners are proficient in Metrics, Engineering Drawings, and PowerPoint. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Listening skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Engineering Planners that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Metrics, 13%
Build databases via Visual Basic Collected and analyzed metrics data utilizing Data Warehouse and completed cost estimating with SEER.
- Engineering Drawings, 13%
Interpreted engineering drawings and helped facilitates correction of errors on drawings and documents identified during manufacturing and repair operations.
- PowerPoint, 9%
Provided demonstrations and interactive training sessions to UPS staff and management in the fundamentals of MS PowerPoint.
- DOD, 8%
Collaborated on the development of a Theater Missile Defense option that saved the DoD Five-Year Defense Plan more than $2B.
- Program Management, 7%
Provided professional-level program management services specializing in probabilistic schedule management in support of the FIA (2010) proposal preparation.
- Autocad, 3%
Implemented interface software to use AutoCAD for work station use of ARES database.
Most engineering planners use their skills in "metrics," "engineering drawings," and "powerpoint" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential engineering planner responsibilities here:
Creativity. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an engineering planner to have is creativity. Their role and responsibilities require that "industrial engineers use creativity and ingenuity to design new production processes in many kinds of settings in order to reduce the use of material resources, time, or labor while accomplishing the same goal." Engineering planners often use creativity in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "planned multiple product lines to meet sales and production plans while meeting company target for inventory. "
Listening skills. Many engineering planner duties rely on listening skills. "these engineers often operate in teams, but they also must solicit feedback from customers, vendors, and production staff," so an engineering planner will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways engineering planner responsibilities rely on listening skills: "reviewed and approved engineering changes, communicated with program stakeholders and took actions to address the changes. "
Speaking skills. engineering planners are also known for speaking skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to engineering planner responsibilities, because "industrial engineers sometimes have to explain their instructions to production staff or technicians before they can make written instructions available." An engineering planner resume example shows how speaking skills is used in the workplace: "presented weekly metrics to program management on status of modernization programs. "
Writing skills. For certain engineering planner responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "writing skills." The day-to-day duties of an engineering planner rely on this skill, as "industrial engineers must prepare documentation for other engineers or scientists, or for future reference." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what engineering planners do: "assist in final assembly by writing soi's for the shop floor. "
Problem-solving skills. A commonly-found skill in engineering planner job descriptions, "problem-solving skills" is essential to what engineering planners do. Engineering planner responsibilities rely on this skill because "in designing facilities for manufacturing and processes for providing services, these engineers deal with several issues at once, from workers’ safety to quality assurance." You can also see how engineering planner duties rely on problem-solving skills in this resume example: "solved mrp, bom, & planning issues. "
Math skills. Lastly, "math skills" is an important element of what an engineering planner does. Engineering planner responsibilities require this skill because "industrial engineers use the principles of calculus, trigonometry, and other advanced topics in mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." This resume example highlights how engineering planner duties rely on this skill: "utilized gis for quantitative analysis and impacts. "
The three companies that hire the most engineering planners are:
- Eversource Energy9 engineering planners jobs
- Lockheed Martin9 engineering planners jobs
- EN Engineering5 engineering planners jobs
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Compare different engineering planners
Engineering planner vs. Supplier quality engineer
A Supplier Quality Engineer ensures that the supplier's quality standards are in accordance with the requirement of the organization. They also report supplier performance and quality to management.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between engineering planners and supplier quality engineer. For instance, engineering planner responsibilities require skills such as "metrics," "engineering drawings," "powerpoint," and "dod." Whereas a supplier quality engineer is skilled in "ppap," "product quality," "spc," and "apqp." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Supplier quality engineers tend to make the most money working in the professional industry, where they earn an average salary of $87,103. In contrast, engineering planners make the biggest average salary, $90,864, in the energy industry.On average, supplier quality engineers reach similar levels of education than engineering planners. Supplier quality engineers are 4.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Engineering planner vs. Quality control engineer
A quality control engineer is responsible for conducting quality assessments for the company's products and services to ensure adherence to federal regulations and quality standards. Quality control engineers recommend strategic methods by analyzing processes and writing test results. They also identify opportunities for more services that meet public demands and market trends, helping the business generate more resources for revenues. A quality control engineer utilizes various software tools and applications to document findings, requiring them to have excellent communication and technical skills.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, engineering planner responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "metrics," "engineering drawings," "powerpoint," and "dod." Meanwhile, a quality control engineer has duties that require skills in areas such as "product quality," "quality standards," "corrective action," and "continuous improvement." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, quality control engineers earn a lower salary than engineering planners. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, quality control engineers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $83,131. Whereas engineering planners have higher pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $90,864.In general, quality control engineers achieve similar levels of education than engineering planners. They're 0.1% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Engineering planner vs. Senior quality engineer
A Senior Quality Engineer ensures that a company's goods meet the quality standards required. They may work in various industries, such as the automobile, textile, clothing, food, and electronics industries.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, engineering planners are more likely to have skills like "metrics," "engineering drawings," "powerpoint," and "dod." But a senior quality engineer is more likely to have skills like "continuous improvement," "corrective action," "product quality," and "quality system."
Senior quality engineers earn the highest salary when working in the professional industry, where they receive an average salary of $100,740. Comparatively, engineering planners have the highest earning potential in the energy industry, with an average salary of $90,864.senior quality engineers typically earn similar educational levels compared to engineering planners. Specifically, they're 3.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Engineering planner vs. Senior process engineer
A Senior Process Engineer assesses a process efficiency, effectiveness, safety, and quality. They also conduct process improvement initiatives and custom product developments.
Types of engineering planner
Updated January 8, 2025
