Career as Material Planner

Last Updated On 29 Jul, 2020

How to Become a Material Planner

About Material Planner

A Material Planner is a person responsible for ensuring a smooth flow of materials in a processing line such as manufacturing. Material Panners are basically kept in charge of the logistics planning and inventory control of manufacturing projects to ensure that the entire operation runs smoothly. They perform several administrative tasks related to the supply chain control and local inventory management of an organization. They coordinate with the manufacturing or assembly lines as well as with the vendor and supplier companies to discuss and plan the purchase of materials required by the organization.

Material Planners play a crucial role in ensuring that the operations of a manufacturing plant run smoothly. They have to monitor the flow of materials to identify which materials are being used at what pace and accordingly maintain sufficient stock for the plant. Material Planners can have a major impact on the cost of operations and production for a company. Their responsibilities are also related to the time taken in the production and delivery of finished products.

Eligibility to become Material Planner

The eligibility criteria of Material Planners varies as per the organization and their job requirements. More experienced candidates having formal education may be preferred for job opportunities in large-scale production. However, there is no fixed format for hiring candidates for the roles. The education and experience requirements may also vary according to the type of industry. Candidates can get a general idea of the eligibility requirements for Material Planner roles given below.

Education Required

  • At least a general bachelor's degree is required by candidates applying for Material Planner Roles.
  • Some companies may require candidates to have degrees in specific fields such as business administration, finance management, supply chain management etc.

  • For more senior-up positions, candidates who have completed a master's education in related disciplines may be given preference.

  • To improve their prospects for getting into the job role of Material Planner, candidates can also look for advanced certification courses in supply management and quality management.

Work Experience Required

Work experience in related roles and tasks is usually required.

Skills Required

  • Good communication and negotiation skills
  • Able to work in a team as well as independently

  • Good planners and able to forecast requirement.

  • Solving problems related to storage and movement of materials within the plant.

  • Able to provide solutions to problems arising in inventory and quality control.

Course For Material Planners

There are several courses that candidates can consider for becoming a Material Planner. They have been provided in the table below.

UG Courses for Material Planners

Course

Colleges
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
BBA in Finance
BBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

BTech in Mechanical Engineering

BTech in Production Engineering

PG Courses for Material Planners

Master of Business Administration (MBA)
MBA Logistics and Supply Chain Management
MBA in Production Management
MBA in Operations Management

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Types of Job Roles Material Planner

Given below are the job responsibilities and duties of a Material Planner.

  • Study projects and maintenance plans and arrange the required materials as and when needed in the process.

  • Maintain a record of the inventory of an organisation including the items available in stock, items being used, shipped etc.

  • Coordinate with vendors and negotiate the best price and quality as required.

  • Performing quality check on purchased materials.

  • Forecasting material requirement and ensuring availability to avoid any delays in production.

  • Identifying problem-areas related to inventory and supply chain.

Employment Sector/Industry for Material Planner

Material Planner is an important role for organisations that require large movements of materials on a regular basis. For such organisations, Material Planners ensure that the movement and storing of materials is well-planned and is done at a minimal cost. Since there is a push to boost the manufacturing sector and an increasing number of companies are establishing their manufacturing plants in India, the score and career opportunities for Material Planners is expected to grow in the country.

Also, since there are many well-established colleges offering courses preparing for the field of Material Planning, candidates can choose multiple pathways to get into this field. Given below are some of the industries where the services of a Material Planner are required.

  • Manufacturing Plants

  • Automobile Companies

  • Airline Companies

  • Shipping and Logistics Companies

  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management Companies

  • E-Commerce Companies etc.

Planning to choose Material Planner as your career?

Pay Scale/Salary of Material Planner

The salary details of a Material Planner in India can be found in the pointers given below.

  • The average starting salary of a Material Planner in India lies in the range of Rs. 3.5 - 4 LPA.

  • The average salary for a Material Planner in India is around Rs. 5 LPA. It can be demanded by candidates having 3 - 5 years of experience.

  • For candidates having 5-8 years of experience, the average salary is around Rs. 7.5 LPA.

  • Material Planners in senior-level positions or in their late careers can demand compensation upwards of Rs. 17 - 20 LPA.

Books & Study Material to Become Material Planner

Given below are some of the best reference books for Material Planners that are recommended by experts.

  • Inventory Accuracy: People, Processes, and Technology by David J Piasecki

  • Demand Driven Material Requirements Planning (DDMRP) by Carol Ptak and Chad Smith

  • Materials Management with SAP ERP by Martin Murray

  • Orlicky's Material Requirements Planning by Carol Ptak and Chad Smith

  • Sap MM Inventory Management: Technical Reference And Learning Guide by P K Agrawal

Pros of becoming a Material Planner

  • Salay for Material Planners is good from the entry-level itself and the scope for growth is also excellent.

  • Career opportunities in the field are expected to grow in the future.

  • Candidates can explore multiple pathways to get into this field and many courses are available in popular colleges.

Cons of becoming a Material Planner

  • Requires a lot of physical work, staying on your feet and moving throughout the workday.

  • Keeping track of negotiations and coordinating with different departments can get hectic.

  • Professionals often have to work in manufacturing plants, which can have a hot and uncomfortable work environment.

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FAQs about Material Planner

Who is a Material Planner?

A Material Planner is a person who plans the movement and storage of materials for an organisation. He/she is involved in handling key operations such as inventory control, quality control and supply chain management for an organisation.

Which companies have a requirement for Material Planners?

Material Planners are required in companies where there is a high movement of materials and goods be it for manufacturing or shipping purposes. While the majority of the career opportunities for Material Planners will be found in the manufacturing sectors, they are also hired by Airline Companies, companies providing SCM Services as well as large shipping and logistics firms.

How can I become a Material Planner after Class 12th?

You can either pursue a BTech or Polytechnic courses in Mechanical or Production for and be promoted to a Material Planning role after gaining some experience in the manufacturing sector. You can also go for courses in SCM, Finance, business administration or logistics for the role. Postgraduate education is usually required for senior-level roles but can be used to increase your salary and position.

Which postgraduate courses are good for Material Planners?

The best courses for a career in Material Planning include a General MBA or PGDM course or with a specialisation in Operations/Production/Logistics/Supply Chain Management/Finance.

Is technical education necessary to become a Material Planner?

No, technical education is not necessary for a Material Planning job. You can also get into this field via business or finance-related roles. However, the job will require you to gain some level of technical knowledge in order to carry out your responsibilities.

How much work experience is required for a Material Planner?

Around 3-5 years of work experience is sufficient for entry-level Material Planner roles.

Is Material Planner a desk job?

No. Material Planning job requires candidates to be on their feet for long hours and move between stations to assess the requirements and consumption of materials.

How much salary does a Material Planner earn?

The salary of a material planner at the starting level can be around Rs. 3 - 4 LPA. The average salary for this career is around Rs. 7 LPA.

Are good colleges available for Material Planners?

Although there are no dedicated institutes specialising in educating Material Planners, there are innumerable good colleges where UG and PG courses are available for Material Planners.

Is Material Planner a good career choice?

Material Planners earn good salaries and have a good scope for growth. Plus, career opportunities in the field are expected to grow. If a candidate can handle the strenuous physical work required and a high-pressure environment, it is a good career offering great compensation.

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