Production Planning

Abstract

The rapid introduction of newer technology and better approaches to management have led to unprecedented increases in productivity, but at its heart, the objective of manufacturing is still to provide the right product in the right quantity at the right time with the right quality at the right price to its customers. This chapter shows how manufacturing organizations strive to meet this objective. Forecasting provides the manufacturer with a basis for anticipating customer demand so as to have adequate product on hand when it is demanded. Aggregate planning approaches establish overall production requirements, and materials requirements planning techniques provide a methodology for ensuring that adequate inventory is available to complete the work required on products needed to meet forecasted customer demands. Job‐sequencing methodologies are used to develop shop schedules for production processes to reduce the time for manufacturing products. Finally, Japanese manufacturing philosophy and supply chain management are discussed.