Will AI replace Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks?
AI can do 86% of the work Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 2 of their 17 tasks, while 13 more are ready but barely used so far. 2 still need a person.
AI is already doing this2 · 9% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Examine documents, materials, or products and monitor work processes to assess completeness, accuracy, and conformance to standards and specifications.Mostly automated5% of time
- Calculate figures, such as required amounts of labor or materials, manufacturing costs, or wages, using pricing schedules, adding machines, calculators, or computers.Mostly automated4% of time
AI could do this next13 · 77% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Revise production schedules when required due to design changes, labor or material shortages, backlogs, or other interruptions, collaborating with management, marketing, sales, production, or engineering.10% of time
- Review documents, such as production schedules, work orders, or staffing tables, to determine personnel or materials requirements or material priorities.9% of time
- Confer with department supervisors or other personnel to assess progress and discuss needed changes.8% of time
- Compile information, such as production rates and progress, materials inventories, materials used, or customer information, so that status reports can be completed.8% of time
- Arrange for delivery, assembly, or distribution of supplies or parts to expedite flow of materials and meet production schedules.8% of time
- Requisition and maintain inventories of materials or supplies necessary to meet production demands.6% of time
- Record production data, including volume produced, consumption of raw materials, or quality control measures.5% of time
- Plan production commitments or timetables for business units, specific programs, or jobs, using sales forecasts.5% of time
- Compile and prepare documentation related to production sequences, transportation, personnel schedules, or purchase, maintenance, or repair orders.5% of time
- Distribute production schedules or work orders to departments.4% of time
- Maintain files, such as maintenance records, bills of lading, or cost reports.4% of time
- Provide documentation and information to account for delays, difficulties, or changes to cost estimates.3% of time
- Establish and prepare product construction directions and locations and information on required tools, materials, equipment, numbers of workers needed, and cost projections.1% of time
Still needs a person2 · 14% of time
No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.
- Confer with establishment personnel, vendors, or customers to coordinate production or shipping activities and to resolve complaints or eliminate delays.10% of time
- Contact suppliers to verify shipment details.4% of time
Your week is not the average
Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.
What this means
AI can already do almost all of this work at least twice as fast. Real use is still behind at 8 out of 100, so the change here is only getting started. Expect the role to shift toward deciding what to do, checking AI's work and owning the result.
What to do next
- Do the 2 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
- Get ahead on the 13 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Build on the 2 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Related jobs
Get the weekly brief
One short email a week on how AI is changing work, including jobs like this one.