How to Be Aerospace Manufacturing Planner - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Oct 27, 2022 / 6 Minutes Read / By Albert

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Aerospace manufacturing planners are responsible for ensuring that necessary materials and components are in place for the successful completion of aerospace projects. They must maintain an accurate understanding of the production process, develop and implement plans for complex projects, and coordinate with vendors to ensure the timely delivery of materials. As a result, aerospace manufacturing planners play an essential role in the aerospace industry, keeping projects on track and ensuring the safety and success of flight operations. Additionally, they are responsible for overseeing the budget, minimizing production costs and wastage, and tracking progress to ensure that all deadlines are met.

Steps How to Become

Obtain a Bachelors Degree. To become an aerospace manufacturing planner, you must first have a bachelors degree in engineering, manufacturing, or a related field. This degree will provide the necessary knowledge and skills to become a successful aerospace manufacturing planner.
Get Relevant Work Experience. It is important to gain relevant work experience in order to become an aerospace manufacturing planner. This could include internships or entry-level positions in aerospace engineering, operations, or manufacturing.
Get Certified. Most employers prefer to hire aerospace manufacturing planners who are certified by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG). To become certified as an aerospace manufacturing planner, you must pass the IAQG Certified Aerospace Manufacturing Planner (CAMP) exam.
Get Licensed. In some cases, you may be required to obtain a professional license to become an aerospace manufacturing planner. These licenses are usually issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or other government agencies.
Stay Up-to-Date. Aerospace manufacturing planners must always stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies. This could include attending conferences, seminars, and workshops related to the aerospace industry.

A successful aerospace manufacturing planner must have an organized and reliable process in place in order to be efficient. Factors such as accurate forecasting, precise scheduling and effective inventory control are essential elements of a successful aerospace manufacturing plan. Accurate forecasting involves anticipating current and future customer demand and production requirements, while precise scheduling ensures that production and delivery times are met.

Inventory control is also essential to ensure that materials are readily available to meet production needs. All of these elements must be carefully managed and monitored to ensure an efficient, reliable aerospace manufacturing plan.

You may want to check Aerospace Logistics Analyst, Aerospace Component Engineer, and Aerospace Machinist for alternative.

Job Description

Aerospace Manufacturing Planner: Responsible for developing, monitoring, and maintaining schedules for the production of aerospace parts and components. Analyzes production requirements to determine the best production methods and techniques. Collaborates with engineering, purchasing, and other departments to ensure the efficient use of resources.
Aerospace Quality Control Inspector: Responsible for performing detailed inspections on aerospace parts and components to ensure they meet quality standards. Utilizes sophisticated testing and measuring equipment to inspect parts and components for any defects or irregularities.
Aerospace Maintenance Technician: Responsible for performing preventative maintenance and repairs on aerospace parts and components. Utilizes tools and equipment to diagnose and repair malfunctions. Ensures that all safety protocols are followed.
Aerospace Engineer: Responsible for designing and developing aerospace parts and components. Analyzes customer requirements, designs solutions, and creates prototypes that meet customer specifications. Tests prototypes to ensure they meet performance requirements.
Aerospace Logistics Analyst: Responsible for analyzing the supply chain of aerospace parts and components. Tracks and evaluates inventory levels, delivery schedules, and cost savings opportunities. Coordinates with outside vendors to ensure timely delivery of parts and components.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Excellent organizational and communication skills.
Knowledge of Aerospace manufacturing processes.
Knowledge of Aerospace supply chain management.
Ability to read, interpret and follow engineering drawings and specifications.
Ability to utilize a variety of software tools to track and monitor production processes.
Familiarity with production planning techniques, such as lean manufacturing or Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory strategies.
Ability to analyze production data, recognize trends and make recommendations for improvement.
Understanding of quality control methods and best practices.
Ability to identify, troubleshoot and resolve production problems.
Comfortable working with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Aerospace Manufacturing Planners play a vital role in the production of aerospace components. In order to effectively manage the production process and ensure a timely and efficient delivery of aerospace components, planners need to possess a variety of skills. Most importantly, they need to have strong organizational and communication skills.

They must be able to plan, coordinate and schedule the production process, create production plans and adjust them as needed. They must also have strong problem-solving skills in order to quickly identify any issues that may arise during production. Furthermore, they must have a good understanding of the manufacturing process, the tools and materials involved, and the ability to read and interpret engineering drawings.

Without these skills, an Aerospace Manufacturing Planner would not be able to effectively manage the production process or ensure a timely and efficient delivery of aerospace components.

Aerospace Tool Designer, Aerospace Test Pilot, and Aerospace Parts Specialist are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have in aerospace manufacturing planning?
How do you stay up to date on industry trends and developments?
Describe the process of creating and executing a successful production plan.
What strategies do you employ when dealing with unforeseen issues that can arise during the production process?
How would you go about optimizing production schedules for efficiency and cost-effectiveness?
What methods do you use to identify and address potential bottlenecks in a production plan?
How do you ensure that production goals are met in a timely manner?
Describe your experience in troubleshooting complex aerospace manufacturing problems.
What safety procedures do you follow when planning a production process?
What techniques do you use to assess the quality of the finished product?

Common Tools in Industry

MES (Manufacturing Execution System). This is a software system used to track and coordinate production work across departments and locations. It is used to monitor and control the production process, generate reports and analyze data. (eg: AutoCAD)
MRP (Material Requirements Planning). This is a software system used to manage the supply chain and inventory management processes. It helps companies plan and manage the procurement, production, and delivery of materials needed to meet customer demands. (eg: SAP)
CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing). This is a software system used to control and automate the machining process. It helps reduce waste, improve quality, and increase machine uptime. (eg: CATIA)
CAD (Computer-Aided Design). This is a software system used for creating two-dimensional and three-dimensional design models. It helps reduce product development time, improve quality, and increase efficiency. (eg: SolidWorks)
CAPP (Computer-Aided Process Planning). This is a software system used to develop and document the manufacturing process plans for parts and components. It helps ensure that all necessary steps are taken in the production process, reducing errors and improving efficiency. (eg: Primavera)

Professional Organizations to Know

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)
International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)
National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA)
Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT)
International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG)
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
National Institute of Aerospace (NIA)
National Center for Advanced Technologies (NCAT)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

We also have Aerospace Material Handler, Aerospace Production Technician, and Aerospace Structural Engineer jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

MRP (Material Requirements Planning). A system used to manage production and inventory by calculating the materials, parts, and components needed to fulfill customer orders.
BOM (Bill of Materials). A list of all the parts, components, and materials needed to assemble a product.
Capacity Planning. The process of estimating and scheduling the production process to ensure that it meets customer needs in a timely manner.
Scheduling. The process of determining when and how tasks will be completed in order to meet customer demands.
MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul). A category of services that involve maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft parts and components.
Quality Assurance. A set of processes and procedures used to ensure that products meet customer requirements and industry standards.
Lean Manufacturing. A set of techniques used to reduce waste and improve efficiency in the production process.
Kaizen. A Japanese term for continuous improvement, focusing on small changes that can lead to big results over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the role of an Aerospace Manufacturing Planner?

The role of an Aerospace Manufacturing Planner is to coordinate and plan the manufacturing of aerospace components and assemblies, working with production and engineering teams to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget.

What qualifications are required to become an Aerospace Manufacturing Planner?

To become an Aerospace Manufacturing Planner, you will typically need a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field, as well as several years of experience in the aerospace industry.

What responsibilities does an Aerospace Manufacturing Planner have?

An Aerospace Manufacturing Planner is responsible for creating comprehensive manufacturing plans for aerospace components and assemblies, coordinating with production and engineering teams to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget, monitoring production processes to ensure quality standards are met, and troubleshooting any issues that arise during production.

What tools does an Aerospace Manufacturing Planner use?

An Aerospace Manufacturing Planner typically uses a variety of tools such as computer-aided design (CAD) software, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and project management tools to create detailed plans for aerospace components and assemblies, track progress, and monitor production processes.

What are the benefits of becoming an Aerospace Manufacturing Planner?

As an Aerospace Manufacturing Planner, you will have the opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment with the latest technology, gain valuable experience in the aerospace industry, and develop a wide range of skills that can be applied in other fields.