Print production planner
A print production planner controls, organises and monitors the flow of printed materials in a printing company. They check schedules, confirm product specifications, arrange adjustments, oversee the work of staff in the department and monitor the quality of the product, ensuring deadlines are met.
Print production planners liaise with other production departments and customer account managers at local, national and international levels according to the scale of the work in hand.
Responsibilities and job titles will vary from employer to employer; a print production planner may also be referred to as a print manager, print supervisor, production press operations manager or production planning co-coordinator.
In large companies, production planners work in various stages of the print production cycle:
In smaller companies, the print production planner may take responsibility for several functions across a range of departments, as well as for obtaining materials to fulfil orders.
Typical tasks involve:
Although this area of work is open to all graduates and diploma students, a degree or HND in the following subjects may increase your chances:
Relevant degree and HND courses are available as follows:
Degree and HND courses may cover different skills areas, so check the course content to make sure it suits the area of printing you want to work in. Courses may cover any of the following skills areas: pre-press; machine printing; finishing; sheet-fed printing press control; ICT; total quality management; digital pre-press; publishing; publishing production; desktop publishing; publication production; print buying; production management; printing processes; and print production.
Entry without a degree or HND is common and many employers are willing to provide training at work or on day-release training. Related qualifications in art, design, communications and information technology will also be helpful.
Postgraduate and professional courses are also available. In addition to subject knowledge, production planners are required to develop a variety of other skills and personal qualities.
Candidates will need to show evidence of the following skills:
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Short, subject-based courses are available at a range of centres throughout the country. These are available in full-time, part-time and distance learning courses. Training is, however, often in the workplace. There are options for day-release and attendance at external courses for relevant qualifications.
The British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) offers a range of training options and relevant courses in all areas of the printing industry.
Loughborough University accredits a Postgraduate Certificate in Management Leadership (Print and Packaging) offered over seven modules. This course is a work-based route and the completion of projects specific to an employer by their employee forms a part of the study process. The BPIF also offer further short courses in technical and management issues. Additionally, South Nottingham College offers some modules in binding and BTEC design.
During a career as a production planner, you may experience a range of planning work in the departments of administration, origination, reprographics, print, bindery and dispatch. The role provides an excellent grounding for supervisory and management careers in all parts of the industry.
After gaining experience, some planners specialise in one of the separate areas of production. This may be in estimating work or, with further training, account management, customer relations or a sales role.
Promotion is normally to production manager, with responsibility for the long-term and day-to-day production planning and control of workflow across all departments. You would ultimately aim to advance to works or general manager.
Larger organisations generally offer more opportunities for promotion to supervisory and management positions and for specialisation in a particular role. Small companies sometimes offer greater responsibility earlier and the chance to gain hands-on printing skills and experience in a range of specialist areas. Some parts of the industry are family-owned micro businesses although there have been some major mergers to form macro-industrial enterprises. Personal development planning needs to take account of the scale of the firm who employs you.
Potential managers are eligible to join the YMP Organisation , the Young Master Printers’ Organisation, as full, associate or student members. Benefits include structured training programmes, company visits, study tours, business meetings and formal gatherings. The YMP aims to help members to develop confidence, leadership and organisational skills and to gain a wider knowledge of the industry. Membership is open to anyone who works in printing or a related industry.
According to The British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) , the UK’s print sector is the world’s fifth largest producer of printed products. It includes 10,500 companies, employing around 140,000 people.
You can find work in the print industry in almost all areas of the UK; the highest concentration of companies is in London and the South East but there are also large numbers of opportunities in the North West, the East Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside. The largest sector in the industry is advertising literature, event programmes, etc (34%), closely followed by newspapers, magazines and books (30%). There are also companies that specialise in security printing (cheques, tickets, secure documents), packaging and labels.
Employers include:
Other employers include advertising agencies, in which production planners are employed to:
At all levels, the industry uses sophisticated technology and computerised production management systems.
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