Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Jewelry Production Planner

🎯 Role Definition

A Jewelry Production Planner is the strategic lynchpin within a jewelry manufacturing or luxury goods company. This role is responsible for the end-to-end planning, scheduling, and coordination of the entire production lifecycle. From translating sales forecasts and design concepts into actionable production plans to managing the intricate flow of precious metals, gemstones, and components, the planner ensures that artisans and production teams have what they need, precisely when they need it. They are masters of balancing capacity, inventory, and deadlines, acting as the central communication hub between design, sales, procurement, and the workshop floor. The ultimate goal is to optimize efficiency, control costs, maintain impeccable quality standards, and ensure the timely delivery of stunning jewelry to the market.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Production Coordinator
Inventory Analyst
Junior Planner / Scheduler

Advancement To:

Senior Production Planner
Production Manager
Supply Chain Manager

Lateral Moves:

Materials Manager
Master Scheduler

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, maintain, and execute comprehensive master production schedules for all jewelry collections, from new product introductions to core replenishment items.
Translate sales forecasts, customer orders, and inventory targets into detailed daily and weekly production plans for in-house workshops and external vendors.
Create and release production orders (often known as job bags or travelers), ensuring all necessary components, gemstones, metals, and instructions are accurately allocated and documented.
Actively monitor Work-in-Progress (WIP) through every stage of production—casting, stone setting, assembly, polishing, and quality control—to ensure strict adherence to the schedule.
Perform detailed capacity planning analysis to identify potential production bottlenecks, evaluate labor and equipment utilization, and recommend strategic adjustments to meet demand.
Collaborate closely with Product Development and Design teams to understand new product requirements and provide critical feedback on manufacturing feasibility, cost implications, and lead times.
Manage and maintain meticulously accurate Bills of Materials (BOMs) and production routing information within the company's ERP/MRP system for all SKUs.
Oversee the inventory levels of raw materials, precious metals, gemstones, and findings, placing purchase requisitions as needed to prevent stockouts and costly production delays.
Act as the primary point of contact and relationship manager for external manufacturing partners, including casters, setters, and finishers, coordinating timelines and managing material flow.
Analyze production data and key performance indicators (KPIs) such as on-time delivery, production yield, and cycle time to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
Proactively communicate potential delays or production issues to all relevant stakeholders, including Sales, Customer Service, and Management, and develop effective recovery plans.
Coordinate with the Quality Control department to schedule in-process and final inspections, ensuring all pieces meet the brand's stringent quality standards.
Lead regular production meetings to review status, resolve challenges, and align priorities across cross-functional teams, fostering a collaborative environment.
Manage the scheduling and prioritization of special orders, custom one-of-a-kind pieces, and repair work, integrating them seamlessly into the main production flow.
Drive the optimization of production workflows and processes to enhance efficiency, reduce lead times, and minimize costs without ever compromising quality.
Reconcile production orders upon completion, ensuring accurate consumption of materials and labor hours are recorded in the ERP system for precise job costing.
Develop and issue regular production status reports, performance dashboards, and backlog analysis for senior management to support strategic decision-making.
Partner with the procurement team to align material delivery schedules with production needs and mitigate risks associated with vendor lead times and market volatility.
Evaluate and manage safety stock levels for key components and finished goods to balance inventory carrying costs with customer service level targets.
Track and expedite the movement of high-value materials and finished goods throughout the supply chain, ensuring security, accountability, and proper documentation.
Systematically review and resolve any discrepancies between physical inventory and system records for all production-related materials.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis related to production efficiency and costs.
Contribute to the organization's broader supply chain strategy and operational roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate new collection needs into tangible production and engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies if working within a modern, tech-enabled production environment.
Assist in the new product introduction (NPI) process by providing detailed production feasibility and cost analysis.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

High proficiency with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and/or Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP) systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, or jewelry-specific software).
Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, including pivot tables, complex formulas, VLOOKUP/INDEX-MATCH, and data modeling.
Deep, practical understanding of jewelry manufacturing processes, including casting, mold making, soldering, various stone setting techniques, and finishing.
Expertise in production scheduling methodologies, capacity planning, and workflow optimization techniques.
Strong knowledge of Bill of Materials (BOM) creation, multi-level structures, and lifecycle management.
Proven experience with inventory control principles and management systems for high-value, small--component goods.
The ability to perform robust data analysis and generate insightful reports on key production metrics (KPIs).
A firm grasp of supply chain management best practices, including demand forecasting, material requirement planning, and vendor management.
Competency in using project management tools (e.g., Asana, Jira, Trello) to track tasks, dependencies, and project milestones.
A thorough knowledge of quality control standards and inspection processes specific to the fine jewelry industry.

Soft Skills

Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy, which is non-negotiable when dealing with precious materials.
Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills to diagnose complex problems and devise effective, logical solutions.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for coordinating clearly and effectively with diverse teams and external vendors.
A highly collaborative spirit and the ability to build strong, trust-based working relationships across all departments.
Superb organizational and time-management skills, with a proven ability to prioritize competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
Adaptability and resilience to handle unexpected production challenges and shifting business priorities with a calm, professional demeanor.
A proactive and solutions-oriented mindset, always seeking opportunities to improve processes and prevent future issues.
Confident negotiation skills for working effectively with external suppliers and partners.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent practical experience in a production environment.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field.
GIA (Gemological Institute of America) certification is a significant plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Supply Chain Management
Operations Management
Business Administration
Industrial Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3-7 years of direct experience in production planning, scheduling, or a closely related supply chain function.

Preferred:

Proven experience as a Production Planner within the fine jewelry, watch, or luxury goods manufacturing sector is highly advantageous and strongly preferred.