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Production planning manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted expert

Adrian Tan

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical production planning manager skills. We ranked the top skills for production planning managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.3% of production planning manager resumes contained mrp as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a production planning manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 production planning manager skills for your resume and career

1. MRP

MRP is an abbreviation of Material Requirements Planning and refers to the control system which is implemented in the planning and management of the activities related to manufacturing. Through MRP, manufacturers can easily schedule the production and it can also be used for inventory. MRP systems are mostly software-based but the process can also be carried out manually.

Here's how production planning managers use mrp:

Developed and directed the MRP Implementation Team tasked with rendering recommendations to management hierarchy on software system enhancements.
Developed a semi computerized order scheduling system working towards a MRP network.

2. Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is an ongoing process of improvement of products, services, and processes with the help of innovative ideas. It is an organized approach that helps an organization to find its weaknesses and improve them.

Here's how production planning managers use continuous improvement:

Participate in cross functional teams that seek out continuous improvement initiatives related to manufacturing capacity and inventory optimization.
Developed continuous improvement objectives related to on-time delivery and cycle time reduction.

3. ERP

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is computer software used by major corporations and organizations for conducting their management and accounting tasks efficiently. ERP systems bind different business processes with each other allowing smoother flow of data between them resulting in swift project assessment and completion.

Here's how production planning managers use erp:

Create, monitor, and evaluate for improvement many internal ERP systems or SOW procedures pertaining to logistics/supply chain/production reconciliation.
Defined, tested and documented manufacturing process flows as a member of the ERP Core Implementation team (IFS).

4. Logistics

Logistics is a complete organization and implementation of a problem. Logistics are often considered in a complex business operation, as some works need detailed plannings. Logistics are also used in military action.

Here's how production planning managers use logistics:

Provided oversight of all materials processes from procurement to logistics.
Research and present logistics solutions for specific product development programs.

5. Inventory Control

Here's how production planning managers use inventory control:

Worked in partnership with the production planning, inventory control, and manufacturing/sourcing teams to maintain facility inventory levels.
Managed inventory of composite materials and consumables through cycle counts and inventory control.

6. Lean Manufacturing

Here's how production planning managers use lean manufacturing:

Recruited from Delphi Automotive to implement Lean Manufacturing techniques within Supply Chain.
Deployed Lean Manufacturing activities to eliminate waste and improve productivity.

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7. Material Availability

The quantity of material required to begin and finish a task is called material availability. The percentage of the total inventory integral to accomplishing the assigned task given the quality is up to standard. Before any project starts, the planner will ensure that the required material is available and permit its execution. The type of material availability check depends upon the available time for the task.

Here's how production planning managers use material availability:

Integrate with Material Managers to resolve conflicts between material availability and production plans.
Coordinate with various departments to schedule material availability.

8. Process Improvement

Here's how production planning managers use process improvement:

Key member of a cross-functional process improvement team that designed and implemented a production scheduling system and software for material forecasting.
Reviewed and monitored processing of non-conformance products, implemented process improvements, and assured on time shipment of quality products.

9. Master Production Schedule

Here's how production planning managers use master production schedule:

Managed production and capacity planning and scheduling of Industrial bearing products and developing master production schedules from forecasts.
Master Production Scheduler * Managed the master production schedule to ensure raw material and finished goods supply availability.

10. On-Time Delivery

On-Time Delivery, or OTD, is a metric that measures the rate at which finished goods and deliveries are completed on time. This rate is measured by the overall number of units shipped within a specified time frame agreed upon by the consumer and supplier. On-Time Delivery allows suppliers' compliance with delivery deadlines, and hence their consistency, to be assessed using a continuous and collaborative development approach.

Here's how production planning managers use on-time delivery:

Developed and complemented inventory policy, increasing on-time delivery to distribution sites 98%.
Assisted Shop Supervisor in the evaluating processes throughout fabrication for better on-time delivery.

11. Sigma

In Greek alphabets, sigma is the 18th letter that means "to sum up". In statistics, the lower case symbol of sigma is the unit of measurement for standard deviation which is used to assess the variability in a given set of data. While the upper case symbol is for summation notation means to add up all the given numbers in the data set.

Here's how production planning managers use sigma:

Utilize PFEP and six sigma statistical techniques on a weekly basis; regularly conduct tours for customers and parent company management.
Led Six Sigma Team to improve the process for end of life & NPI resulting in annual savings of $120K.

12. Supply Chain Planning

Here's how production planning managers use supply chain planning:

Coordinated supply chain planning activities for critical new products ensuring sufficient launch quantities were available.
Support successful implementation of materials & supply chain planning initiatives.

13. Inventory Management

Here's how production planning managers use inventory management:

Directed a team to develop and implement purchasing, master scheduling, inventory management and outside processor procedures and training documentation.
Designed and implemented a pallet location control program to provide more efficiency and Inventory Management improvements for the department.

14. Shop Floor

Here's how production planning managers use shop floor:

Conducted training of Material Requirements Planning, Capacity Requirements Planning, Purchasing, Shop Floor Control and Cost Accounting modules.
Introduced KPI and management control protocols for Inventory, Shop Floor, Sales and Operations Planning (SOP).

15. Production Control

Production control is the component of management that directs, plans, and controls the supply and processing of raw material. Any enterprise does this so that specific products get produced by a stipulated approach to convene an authorized sales programme. Production control is often executed from a control or operations room.

Here's how production planning managers use production control:

Recognize and resolve production control issues and to monitor/evaluate continuous progress.
Direct the scheduling, forecasting, production control, and capacity maintenance for all Compression Services manufacturing.

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What skills help Production Planning Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What type of skills will young production planning managers need?

Adrian Tan

Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator, Pennsylvania State University - New Kensington

The feedback from business leaders is that they wish to see a balanced mix of different skills in new graduates. An unexpected skill mentioned is the ability to use spreadsheets such as Excel. Companies do not expect to have to train new employees to use spreadsheets, though it turned out that spreadsheets are widely used (at varying levels of complexity) at all levels in organizations. An assumption here is that if a graduate already has good spreadsheet skills, then the graduate should also have the ability to quickly pick up on other more complex business IT skills required by the organization.
Businesses also need to know if their new employees can effectively interact with internal or external audiences. In this regard, excellent presentation skills are the minimum expectation from businesses. Presentation skills (both formal and informal) include the ability to read people, to communicate, and to covey information appropriately to the different types of audiences they may encounter - and these may sometimes include bored, skeptical, adversarial or even hostile audiences.
Every organization also requires graduates to show that they are good team-players. In addition to that, it is a big advantage if graduates can also demonstrate sound leadership skills in the context of teamwork. This is because new employees with leadership potential are viewed as those who are willing to go the extra mile, able to function with minimum supervision, can roll with the punches to jump back into the fray, and trusted to welcome (instead of to avoid) new assignments or challenges. Leadership skills are also seen as closely aligned with the possession of a corporate entrepreneurial mindset in that such employees are more willing to challenge the status quo, come up with out-of-the-box ideas, and help lead transformation efforts that can guide the organization in the future.

Do you want to know more?

List of production planning manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a production planning manager resume and required skills for a production planning manager to have include:

MRP
Continuous Improvement
ERP
Logistics
Inventory Control
Lean Manufacturing
Material Availability
Process Improvement
Master Production Schedule
On-Time Delivery
Sigma
Supply Chain Planning
Inventory Management
Shop Floor
Production Control
Materials Management
Material Planning

Customer Orders
ISO
WIP
Direct Reports
Customer Satisfaction
Customer Demand
Production Orders
Capacity Planning
Lean Six Sigma
BOM
Production Lines
Production Operations
Corrective Action
Material Flow
Delivery Dates
Product Development
Sales Orders

Plant Operations
Inventory Planning
Production Processes
Sales Forecasts
R
Product Availability
Goods Inventory
Kanban
KPI
Cost Savings
Inventory Accuracy
Distribution Centers
Production Capacity
FDA
OTD

Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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