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Print production planner: Job description and activities

Job description

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.

Typical work activities

In large companies, production planners work in various stages of the print production cycle:

• administration - where orders put into a computerised management system generate specifications for the product (there are standard specifications for book plans, or standard magazines and press work);
• origination - where artwork and digital images are designed;
• reprographic - where printing plates are produced;
• print machine rooms/floors - where printing presses operate;
• bindery - where products are bound and finished;
• dispatch - where products are packaged and distributed.

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:

• checking the accuracy and viability of the product specification;
• adapting computer systems to requirements of the work;
• allocating, distributing and checking work with available staff;
• monitoring and maintaining the quality of the order;
• improving processes and cost-efficiency;
• managing production staff and trainees;
• liaising with customer account managers to discuss setbacks in time or processes;
• ensuring collaboration between different staff in different departments;
• keeping contact with customers to ensure specifications are carried out;
• complying with health and safety standards and workplace legislation; 
• recommending changes and improvements.

AGCAS

Written by Rosemary Addison, Edinburgh Napier University

Last updated:

April 2009

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