3116 — Planning, process and production technicians

What this occupation covers

Planning, process and production technicians perform a variety of technical support functions to assist production, process and planning engineers with production programmes and schedules and with manufacturing and processing procedures in order to ensure accuracy, cost-effectiveness and efficiency

Typical duties

supports planning and production engineers in assessing existing and alternative production methods

works from, and helps implement, professional engineers’ drawings and specifications for equipment and layout, and helps implement modifications required for existing plant machinery/layout

works with engineers on production control methods to monitor operational efficiency and helps to eliminate potential hazards and bottlenecks in production

liaises with materials buying, storing and controlling departments to ensure a steady flow of supplies

supports professional engineers in reviewing safety, quality, accuracy, reliability and contractual requirements

supports implementation of plans of sequence of operations and completion dates for each phase of production or processing

ensures implementation of inspection, testing and evaluation methods for bought-in materials, components, semi-finished and finished products

plans and coordinates maintenance activities involved in manufacturing and processing procedures

ensures accuracy of manufacturing and testing equipment

ensures effective completion and implementation of detailed instructions on processes, work methods and quality and safety standards for workers

reviews and analyses production data

plans the cost impact and staff resources for projects

Entry routes and qualifications

Entrants to training usually possess GCSEs/S grades. Vocational training consists either of full-time study for a BTEC/SQA National award followed by two years on-the-job training, or an apprenticeship leading to an NVQ/SVQ at level 3.

Sponsorship information

Medium Skilled. Actual duties, sponsor, applicant, salary and any transitional or shortage-list conditions must be checked.

Temporary Shortage List: Planning, process and production technicians. Certificate of Sponsorship must be issued before 31 December 2026.

DBS assessment

No code-wide DBS assessment is assigned. Check actual duties, activities, workplace, frequency and jurisdiction. This code does not determine the level of check.

Find this code and estimate salary

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Annaizu is independent of ONS, the Home Office and DBS.