Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 377,900 people employed as production, planning, and expediting clerks in the United States. The median annual salary is $48,040. Entry level employees earn approximately $31,550 per year and senior employees earn approximately $76,440 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Revise production schedules when required due to design changes, labor or material shortages, backlogs, or other interruptions, collaborating with management, marketing, sales, production, or engineering.
• Confer with establishment personnel, vendors, or customers to coordinate production or shipping activities and to resolve complaints or eliminate delays.
• Examine documents, materials, or products and monitor work processes to assess completeness, accuracy, and conformance to standards and specifications.
• Record production data, including volume produced, consumption of raw materials, or quality control measures.
• Calculate figures, such as required amounts of labor or materials, manufacturing costs, or wages, using pricing schedules, adding machines, calculators, or computers.
• Compile information, such as production rates and progress, materials inventories, materials used, or customer information, so that status reports can be completed.
• Compile and prepare documentation related to production sequences, transportation, personnel schedules, or purchase, maintenance, or repair orders.
• Maintain files, such as maintenance records, bills of lading, or cost reports.
• Contact suppliers to verify shipment details.
• Plan production commitments or timetables for business units, specific programs, or jobs, using sales forecasts.
• Establish and prepare product construction directions and locations and information on required tools, materials, equipment, numbers of workers needed, and cost projections.
• Provide documentation and information to account for delays, difficulties, or changes to cost estimates.
• Distribute production schedules or work orders to departments.
• Review documents, such as production schedules, work orders, or staffing tables, to determine personnel or materials requirements or material priorities.
• Requisition and maintain inventories of materials or supplies necessary to meet production demands.
• Arrange for delivery, assembly, or distribution of supplies or parts to expedite flow of materials and meet production schedules.
• Confer with department supervisors or other personnel to assess progress and discuss needed changes.

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