5 Secret Things You Didn't Know About How to Increase Manufacturing Productivity and Achieve More in Less Time

Production Planning refers to planning the schedule for the manufacture of products and services, organizing the activities carefully, predicting ahead, and taking the right steps, in the right way and at the right time. It is a matter of deciding when and where to deliver at what time, by whom, and how.

1. Planning:- The first important step in manufacturing planning involves carefully preparing production plans. Manufacturing plans determine what will be produced, and where, by whom, and how. Data on the quantity and nature of the goods to be manufactured can be obtained from customer orders and the distribution budget and data about the manufacturing facilities can be obtained from the management and engineering departments.

2. Routing:- The next important feature of production planning is routing which involves determining the path, i.e. route of raw materials movement through various machines and factory operations. Routing involves the preparation of where and by whom work is to be undertaken, the determination of the direction to follow, and the sequence of operations necessary. To find this direction, the focus is put on the determination of operational data, which typically involves the preparation of 'when' and 'by whom' work should be undertaken, the determination of the route to be followed, and the appropriate sequence of work. Such operating details are found in the standard process sheet that helps to make routing in the standard process sheet that helps to create a routing map showing the operations sequence and the system to be used. If the computer loan chart indicates the non-availability of such machines, the routing chart can also provide alternative routing. At a given time, the most effective routing can have to be compromised by the availability of the machines. In other words, "routing determines the operations, their route and series, and the correct class of machines and personnel needed for those operations."

3. Scheduling:- Scheduling is planning the production time dimension, i.e., prior determination of "what work to do." It consists of the beginning and finishing times for the various operations to be carried out. In other words, the scheduling function determines when to perform an operation or when to complete the task, the distinction lies in the specifics of the scheduling process. The scheduling, as part of the scheduling, specifies the time when each operation needed on the route sheet is to be performed on the specified machine to meet the necessary delivery dates. Good control function not only directs the time each operation should start but also indicates the progress of each production part, the amount of work ahead of each machine, and the availability of each machine to assign new work.

4. Dispatching:- Dispatching is the manufacturing control component that translates paperwork into actual production. It is the community that oversees the preparation and converts it into actual production. Under routing and scheduling features, the dispatching process continues according to the specifics of the exercise. Therefore, dispatching ensures that the material is transported to the appropriate workplace, that the equipment is ready for the different operations that the job moves according to routing directions at the correct location. Dispatching carries out the physical activities as the schedule suggests. Therefore, dispatching means giving work orders.

5. Expediting:- Expedition or follow-up is the last stage of the production control cycle. This role is intended to keep track of your work effort. The goal is to ensure that what is designed and expected is put into action. "Expediting consists of recording output data and examining variances from predetermined schedules of time. The key concept behind the expedition is to see if performance matches commitment." It has many roles to it:-

➤ Search to ensure that supplies, equipment, component parts, and accessories are available in defined quantities at all work centers for starting and conducting manufacturing operations.

➤ Check the status of the work underway and complete the work at various workstations. This involves gathering details on the starting and finishing times, the location and movement of materials, component parts and sub-assemblies inside the plants, and the results of the inspection.

➤ Preparation of progress reports, and review of control boards. Reporting on any major anomalies to production managers, so that corrective steps can be taken. This also involves reporting to the department of production planning, so that future plans can be modified. And production planning and monitoring by completing the different phases ensure products are produced in the right quality, quantity, and at competitive market rates. One thing that needs to be borne in mind is that production planning and control are a never-ending cycle and interdependent on its different functions.