Post job

What is a production control specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

A product control planner strategizes and makes plans to improve daily or weekly production schedules and ensure that workers meet the predicted production date. This means that the product control planner will decide on the material, equipment, and labor requirements needed to complete production. As a product control planner, you are going to be doing a lot of planning and supervising. And if need be, you will effect changes to the production schedules to meet deadlines.

To work as a product control planner, you should have a degree in business management, industrial distribution, or supply management. However, experience in this field always gives you an edge. Good communication skills and the ability to build relationships with colleagues are some of the critical skills you need to become a product control planner. Expect to average around $62,419 per year working as a product control planner.

ScoreProduction Control SpecialistUS Average
Salary
4.7

Avg. Salary $60,387

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.8

Growth rate -3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.53%

Asian 7.03%

Black or African American 10.25%

Hispanic or Latino 16.85%

Unknown 4.82%

White 60.52%

Gender

female 38.90%

male 61.10%

Age - 45
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45
Stress level
7.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.3

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.9

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Production control specialist career paths

Key steps to become a production control specialist

  1. Explore production control specialist education requirements

    Most common production control specialist degrees

    Bachelor's

    55.2 %

    Associate

    24.3 %

    High School Diploma

    9.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific production control specialist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Production Control13.40%
    MRP7.92%
    Lean Manufacturing6.92%
    Production Schedules5.49%
    Logistics5.32%
  3. Complete relevant production control specialist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New production control specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a production control specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real production control specialist resumes.
  4. Research production control specialist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage kanban implementation and accuracy.
    • Operate in multiple shop floor and MRP relate systems to ensure alignment between material position and production capability/schedule.
    • Provide detailed WIP status reports for customer calls by program management.
    • Monitor orders in WIP, replace rejected materials, and facilitate production holds.
  5. Prepare your production control specialist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your production control specialist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a production control specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable production control specialist resume templates

    Build a professional production control specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your production control specialist resume.
    Production Control Specialist Resume
    Production Control Specialist Resume
    Production Control Specialist Resume
    Production Control Specialist Resume
    Production Control Specialist Resume
    Production Control Specialist Resume
    Production Control Specialist Resume
    Production Control Specialist Resume
    Production Control Specialist Resume
  6. Apply for production control specialist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a production control specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first production control specialist job

Zippi

Are you a production control specialist?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average production control specialist salary

The average production control specialist salary in the United States is $60,387 per year or $29 per hour. Production control specialist salaries range between $43,000 and $84,000 per year.

Average production control specialist salary
$60,387 Yearly
$29.03 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do production control specialists rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Production control specialist reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Pros

KEEPING THE INVENTORY AND COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE

Cons

THERE ISN'T ANYTHING I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT YET. BUT I WOULD LIKE MORE MONEY,


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019
Pros

Maintaining a balance of zero variances.

Cons

Kicking people off the boat when they are not productive.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019
Pros

I work with an amazing team. To an extent I feel as if I have creative freedom. There are stressful days. In the end, its worth it and I love the challenge.

Cons

The stressful days, and disappointment associated with it.


Working as a production control specialist? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse office and administrative jobs