Material Planner Duties & Responsibilities

The role and function of a Material Planner includes the following duties and responsibilities:

  • Determining the required materials and generating purchase orders.
  • Ensuring materials meet specifications, quality standards, and are cost-efficient.
  • Ensuring the consistent and adequate supply of materials necessary for production.
  • Liaising with customers, suppliers, and distributors.
  • Managing inventory issues, schedule changes, and cancellations.
  • Preparing cost estimates and performance reports.
  • Coordinating with other departments regarding production goals, timelines, supplier payments, etc.
  • Tracking production volume and monitoring customer demand patterns and purchasing trends.
  • Scheduling and overseeing the supply and delivery of materials and products.

Note that this is not an exhaustive list of Material Planner duties and responsibilities. Job functions for specific Material Planner roles may vary, depending on the industry and type of employer.