Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Mineral Exploration • Slope Stability • Asset Management

Production Planning

Term from Mining industry explained for recruiters

Production Planning in mining is about organizing and scheduling how a mine operates to get minerals out of the ground efficiently and safely. It's like creating a detailed roadmap that shows what needs to be mined, when it should be mined, and how to do it. This includes deciding which areas to mine first, what equipment to use, and how many workers are needed. Similar terms used in the industry include "Mine Planning" or "Operations Planning." Think of it as the blueprint that helps mining companies extract resources while keeping costs down and following safety rules.

Examples in Resumes

Created and managed Production Planning schedules resulting in 15% efficiency improvement

Led Mine Planning team for open-pit copper operations

Implemented new Production Planning software reducing planning cycle time by 30%

Developed quarterly Operations Planning strategies for gold mine operations

Typical job title: "Production Planners"

Also try searching for:

Mine Planner Production Planning Engineer Mining Engineer Operations Planner Production Scheduler Mine Operations Planner

Where to Find Production Planners

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Industry Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you handle a situation where production targets are not being met?

Expected Answer: A senior planner should discuss analyzing the root causes, reviewing equipment efficiency, workforce allocation, and developing both short-term and long-term solutions while considering safety and cost implications.

Q: What factors do you consider when creating a 5-year mine plan?

Expected Answer: Should mention resource estimation, market conditions, equipment lifecycle, environmental regulations, workforce planning, and how these factors interact to create a sustainable long-term plan.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you balance safety requirements with production goals?

Expected Answer: Should explain how they incorporate safety protocols into planning, emphasize that safety takes priority, and describe methods to maintain productivity while ensuring compliance with safety standards.

Q: What software tools do you use for production planning?

Expected Answer: Should be familiar with common mining software and explain how they use these tools to create and adjust production schedules, track progress, and generate reports.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the basic components of a production plan?

Expected Answer: Should identify key elements like resource quantities, equipment requirements, workforce needs, timeframes, and basic scheduling concepts.

Q: How do you calculate basic production targets?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of simple production calculations, including equipment capacity, cycle times, and how to determine daily/weekly production goals.