A material planner is responsible for ensuring that an organisation has the necessary materials and supplies to meet its production needs. This involves developing and implementing effective supply chain strategies, monitoring inventory levels, collaborating with suppliers and other stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of materials. Moreover, their primary job role is to forecast demand for materials along with supplies based on production schedules and customer orders.

The material planner also develops and implements inventory control strategies to optimise inventory levels as well as minimise waste. Furthermore, a material planner plays a critical role in ensuring that an organisation has the necessary resources to meet its production goals and deliver products to customers on time.

For Bachelor’s

• A candidate must have passed the 10+2 examination with a grade point average of 55% from a recognised education board.
• The seekers must have a bachelor's degree such as a BBA in finance, a BBA in logistics and supply chain management, a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering, or a B.Tech in Production Engineering.

 For Masters

• The candidates should pursue a Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), an MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, an MBA in production management or an MBA in operations management.

The job role of a Material Planner involves the following responsibilities:

• Plan and schedule the delivery of materials required for production or maintenance
• Analyse inventory levels as well as demand forecasts to determine the quantities of materials needed
• Coordinate with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of materials and negotiate prices along with contracts
• Monitor inventory levels and work with production as well as procurement teams to adjust production plans and purchase orders as necessary
• Develop and maintain relationships with suppliers as well as ensure that they meet quality and delivery standards
• Maintain accurate records of inventory and supplier performance

Some of the top recruiters of Material Planners include:

• Manufacturing companies
• Aerospace and defence companies
• Automotive companies 
• Consumer goods companies
• Electronics companies
• Medical device companies
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Retail companies
• Technology companies
• Logistics and supply chain companies.

Employment Sector

• Manufacturing
• Aerospace and defence
• Automotive
• Consumer goods
• Electronics
• Medical devices
• Pharmaceuticals
• Retail
• Technology
• Logistics and supply chain management

The salary of a material planner can vary greatly depending on a variety of factors such as the industry, size, location of the company, the individual's level of experience along with qualifications.

• Inventory management
• Data analysis
• Communication
• Attention to detail
• Problem-solving
• Knowledge of supply chain management software

The career scope of a Material Planner is quite promising as the demand for skilled supply chain and inventory management professionals continues to grow across various industries. Material planners are responsible for ensuring that the right materials are available at the right time, in the right quantities and at the right cost. This makes their role vital to the success of any company that relies on supply chain operations. With experience, Material Planners can progress to more senior roles such as Supply Chain Manager, Logistics Manager or Operations Manager. They can also move into related fields such as procurement or production planning. Material Planners who demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills as well as a deep understanding of the latest supply chain management tools and techniques are in particularly high demand. 

• Job stability
• Opportunities for growth
• Competitive salary
• Varied work
• Impactful work
• Collaboration

• High pressure
• Long working hours
• Constantly changing market conditions
• High levels of responsibility
• Complex job requirements