An employee who orders, inventories, and otherwise manages all types of equipment used in a business is known as an equipment planner. The equipment planner may have a broad focus or work for a specific industry; for example, medical equipment planners will only work in medical settings such as hospitals or medical centers. The planner must have a thorough understanding of the various types of equipment commonly used in a given industry, as well as the ability to establish relationships with distributors and manufacturers in order to obtain the best prices, service, and delivery options.
The equipment planner’s main responsibility is inventory management. He or she must keep track of equipment invoices, keep track of any costs incurred for repairs or replacement parts, and manage all machine maintenance schedules. The equipment planner will almost certainly be required to work within a budget that has been approved by the company’s management. This means he or she must prioritize equipment purchases in order to get the most relevant and necessary items first.
The equipment planner must also research various equipment purchase options to ensure that the best equipment for the money is purchased. This can be a difficult process, especially if the planner is unfamiliar with the machinery or equipment used in a specific industry; for this reason, employers prefer to hire planners who are familiar with the industry. The planner will open an account with a vendor or manufacturer, and he or she will be responsible for keeping that account open for future purchases or warranty issues. If a problem with a piece of equipment arises, the planner will be responsible for scheduling maintenance or repair of the machine, as well as dealing directly with the manufacturer about warranty issues.
The equipment planner may be required to coordinate the placement of machinery or the movement of equipment throughout the building on occasion. In a hospital, for example, a piece of equipment may be required by two different medical professionals at the same time. As a result, the equipment planner will have to coordinate the placement of the equipment so that as many medical professionals as possible can use it. To manage this task, a schedule is frequently created. A reasonable level of physical fitness may be required if the planner is responsible for physically moving pieces of equipment from one location to another.