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Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
Coordinate and expedite the flow of work and materials within or between departments of an establishment according to production schedule. Duties include reviewing and distributing production, work, and shipment schedules; conferring with department supervisors to determine progress of work and completion dates; and compiling reports on progress of work, inventory levels, costs, and production problems.
Other titles employers use
Expeditor · Inventory Control Specialist · Material Requirements Planner (MRP) · Materials Coordinator · Materials Planner · Production Assistant · Production Clerk · Production Controller
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Distribute production schedules or work orders to departments.
- 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.
- Review documents, such as production schedules, work orders, or staffing tables, to determine personnel or materials requirements or material priorities.
- Arrange for delivery, assembly, or distribution of supplies or parts to expedite flow of materials and meet production schedules.
- Confer with establishment personnel, vendors, or customers to coordinate production or shipping activities and to resolve complaints or eliminate delays.
- Requisition and maintain inventories of materials or supplies necessary to meet production demands.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to organizing, persuading and practical work.
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Time Management
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
Subjects to know
- Production and Processing
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administrative
- Administration and Management
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Information Ordering
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Comprehension
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.8 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 2.2 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.9 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.8 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 56%
- A certificate or some college 31%
- A two-year degree 13%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Data base user interface and query software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Word processing software
- Project management software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Accounting software
- Medical software
- Electronic mail software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 62,700
- Job openings each year
- 6,540
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 6.6%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 62,700 | 6,540 | 6.6% |
| New York | 59,040 | 590 | 11.1% |
| Texas | 34,060 | 3,680 | 16.4% |
| Florida | 20,990 | 2,240 | 12.8% |
| Georgia | 17,330 | 1,850 | 12.5% |
| Ohio | 16,520 | 1,690 | 2.5% |
| Tennessee | 15,670 | 1,700 | 16.5% |
| Arizona | 12,640 | 1,360 | 15.3% |
| Washington | 11,690 | 1,370 | 11.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 11,670 | 1,200 | 3.0% |
| North Carolina | 11,420 | 1,200 | 8.1% |
| New Jersey | 11,220 | 1,170 | 6.6% |
| Illinois | 10,660 | 1,100 | 3.9% |
| Michigan | 9,030 | 920 | 1.6% |
| Minnesota | 8,650 | 900 | 5.7% |
| Wisconsin | 8,650 | 900 | 7.1% |
| Indiana | 7,700 | 800 | 5.5% |
| Missouri | 7,690 | 780 | 1.7% |
| Virginia | 7,640 | 790 | 5.1% |
| Maryland | 6,790 | 710 | 8.8% |
| South Carolina | 6,700 | 730 | 17.3% |
| Utah | 6,340 | 700 | 23.6% |
| Oklahoma | 6,140 | 640 | 4.8% |
| Kentucky | 5,370 | 570 | 9.4% |
| Colorado | 5,180 | 550 | 11.4% |
| Connecticut | 4,830 | 510 | 11.3% |
| Iowa | 4,360 | 460 | 9.3% |
| Kansas | 4,190 | 440 | 6.3% |
| Oregon | 4,090 | 440 | 12.4% |
| Mississippi | 3,180 | 340 | 16.1% |
| Alabama | 3,110 | 330 | 9.1% |
| Arkansas | 2,740 | 290 | 9.2% |
| Nevada | 2,540 | 280 | 22.7% |
| Louisiana | 2,250 | 240 | 8.2% |
| Massachusetts | 2,150 | 220 | 3.4% |
| Puerto Rico | 1,880 | 200 | 11.2% |
| New Hampshire | 1,520 | 160 | 5.6% |
| New Mexico | 1,490 | 160 | 16.4% |
| Nebraska | 1,360 | 140 | 7.9% |
| Idaho | 1,340 | 150 | 17.5% |
| Maine | 1,050 | 110 | — |
| Rhode Island | 920 | 100 | 10.8% |
| West Virginia | 840 | 90 | 12.0% |
| South Dakota | 730 | 80 | 7.4% |
| Delaware | 540 | 60 | 12.5% |
| Vermont | 530 | 50 | 3.9% |
| Alaska | 460 | 50 | 7.0% |
| District of Columbia | 460 | 50 | 2.2% |
| North Dakota | 420 | 40 | 7.7% |
| Montana | 340 | 40 | 13.3% |
| Guam | 170 | 20 | 13.3% |
| Wyoming | 170 | 20 | 13.3% |
| Virgin Islands | 20 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Valdosta State University
- Degrees each year
- 22
- Admit rate
- 83%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college FLThe University of Tampa
- Degrees each year
- 16
- Admit rate
- 41%
- Annual cost after aid
- $32,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college MONorthwest Missouri State University
- Degrees each year
- 2
- Admit rate
- 86%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open collegeCompare every college offering business operations support and assistant services