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10 Production Schedule Templates for Production Planning

Praburam Srinivasan

Growth Marketing Manager

February 13, 2024

If you’re in the business of making something—a new app, a website, or even a multimedia project—you need to carefully plan, control, and execute your production to succeed. A good production schedule helps you to deliver your goods on time while optimizing your resources. 

These blueprint plans keep everyone in the know and on track throughout every stage of the production process. These schedules specify who is responsible for each task, the completion date, and the next steps in the process .

In this guide, we’ll cover the benefits of a well-designed schedule and share 10 production schedule templates you can start using now. 🦄

What is a Production Planning Template?

Benefits of using a master production schedule template, what makes a good production planning template, 1. clickup production tracking template, 2. clickup production cost analysis template, 3. clickup daily production report template, 4. clickup manufacturing project plan template, 5. clickup manufacturing communication plan template, 6. clickup sprint planning template, 7. clickup development schedule template, 8. clickup build plan template, 9. clickup release planning template, 10. excel production schedule template by simple sheets.

A production planning template is a framework that creates a visual representation of production scheduling. The schedule establishes a production process and assigns a plan and budget, outlining the task sequence, timing, and allocation of necessary resources to create something or deliver services.

Production schedules usually include details on the production status, such as task description, start and end dates, role and responsibility assignments, and required materials for each step.

These resources are handy for optimizing workflows and minimizing obstacles that could delay production. They help project managers ensure on-time and on-budget delivery of goods and services.

A well-planned production schedule assists businesses in making intelligent, well-informed decisions and planning more efficiently. 

Using a production schedule template improves your business’s efficiency and organization while contributing to the overall success of the production process. Some of the key advantages of using a production planning template include: 

• More efficient resource allocation : A good production plan will help you allocate resources efficiently, including workforce, equipment, and materials. This helps reduce production costs and improve profitability 
• Better time management : Production schedule templates help you create clear, reasonable timelines for each task, giving teams actionable deadlines and avoiding burnout or bottlenecks. You’ll also avoid unnecessary downtime 
• Standardized processes : A production plan creates a framework for your operations and provides a consistent and replicable production process. This enhances quality control and reduces potential errors in production 
• More transparency with accountability : Production schedules allow you to assign roles and responsibilities for each task, making it clear who’s responsible for each step. This makes the process transparent and holds team members accountable for their contributions 

Some templates also allow you to run “what-if” scenarios. This helps you plan for different production scenarios and see how your team could overcome potential challenges. It’s a great way to build flexibility into your production schedule and keep things running smoothly, even when the unexpected happens. 

A good production planning template helps make your production more efficient, flexible, and cost-efficient. The template must have an organized, logical layout and be easy to use, edit, and update.

Users need to identify tasks, timelines, and resources at a glance. Suitable templates should also have space for additional information, such as task descriptions and start and end dates. Production planning templates also benefit from built-in communication aids, including notes and comments sections, which promote collaboration within the team.

Excellent production schedule templates offer dependency indications for a smooth workflow and guide resource allocation. They typically incorporate visual elements, such as Gantt charts and milestone trackers, to mark progress within the project.

The best production planning templates are the ones that help you coordinate production tasks, minimize waste, and propel you to better on-time delivery. Experiment with several templates to see what works best for your team.

10 Production Planning Schedule Templates to Use in 2024

Here are 10 versatile and efficient production planning templates to try this year.

The ClickUp Production Tracking Template offers a comprehensive solution for any organization that needs to master production management. The template seamlessly integrates with the ClickUp ecosystem, so you can use the framework to streamline production tasks while taking advantage of the platform’s robust project planning tools . 

The template allows you to meticulously map tasks, allocate resources, establish priorities, and identify dependencies by featuring an incredibly intuitive interface, complete with click-and-drag functionalities. The multiple views available let you create dynamic visualizations of the workflow to spot potential problems and remove them before they cause production issues. 

ClickUp’s commitment to collaboration shines through in this template. It offers plenty of space for feedback, notes, and comments and informs teams with real-time updates. It’s a great way to avoid any issues with missed emails or poor version management because everything your team needs to stay on track is in one centralized hub. 

Efficient production is vital for your bottom line, and the ClickUp Production Cost Analysis Template covers materials, labor, and overhead costs to help inform your decisions. You can gain insight into your production inefficiencies and forecast pricing impacts.

Product managers can leverage the template’s information to make better decisions and improve the production process. By gaining better cost visibility in your production process, you can optimize your resources and boost your long-term profitability and efficiency.

Let this template do the heavy lifting by collecting essential data and providing key actionable insights. It connects with the rest of the ClickUp platform, so it’s an excellent option if you already use the program as strategic planning software for your business. 

Production planning templates offer a high-level view of your process, but you must also know the daily details. The ClickUp Daily Production Report Template is an excellent addition to your  product development process , giving your team space to update everyone on daily events. 

Using the template within the ClickUp platform allows you to create real-time insights and progress tracking for more efficient reporting and better decision-making. 

The Daily Production Report Template offers total customization, including status, fields, and multiple view options to incorporate it with your workflow. It’s a great way to maintain oversight, provide accountability, and create transparent collaboration with your production team.

For those working specifically within the manufacturing industry, the ClickUp Manufacturing Project Plan Template will streamline the planning and organization process. The template has space for project objectives , manufacturing tasks, resource allocation, progress tracking, and more. 

Execute your projects more effectively and efficiently while optimizing your budget and resources. With careful planning and this functional template, you’ll reduce operation costs and make your production line more profitable. 

It’s a great addition to your ClickUp ecosystem and a perfect addition if you already use ClickUp as a CRM platform for manufacturers . Add this template to your current ClickUp lineup and see how it strengthens your manufacturing plans, making them faster and more cost-effective. 

Learn about the best manufacturing schedule software !

Our next free production schedule template is the ClickUp Manufacturing Communication Plan Template for better coordination and team collaboration, so you’ll avoid misunderstandings that may cause delays in the manufacturing processes.

This template helps you establish better communication paths between departments, suppliers, and stakeholders to keep information flowing and ensure everyone gets the same regular updates. Using this template, you’ll be able to document critical decisions and actions so everyone stays on the same page. 

No matter the size of your operation, this template is a must-have in your collection of  product management tools .

If your team operates on an Agile project management approach, sprint planning is a big part of your production plan. Make sprint planning more efficient with the ClickUp Sprint Planning Template . The template’s design makes it easier to plan each sprint, bringing clarity to a task regardless of complexity.

Use the platform’s many visualization features to create easy-to-read task planning and schedules because it plugs into ClickUp seamlessly. ClickUp’s collaborative features also make it easy for your team to keep the planning template current, so any project manager or team member can monitor progress throughout the sprint lifecycle and know where the team is at with every task on the list. 

Are you looking for a way to keep your development team on track? The ClickUp Development Schedule Template is the resource you need, no matter what you’re working on and what stage of development you’re in.

The template streamlines creating a schedule with visual task management, collaborative features, real-time updates, and automated reminders. This keeps your team on track with tasks and ensures they meet deliverable deadlines.

The Development Schedule Template provides stakeholders with real-time updates. It’s a great way to update them on progress so they have the information they need at any time. With everything in one central hub, they can easily check progress while allowing the development team to continue working on their tasks.

You have an idea. Now, you need a plan to build it. The ClickUp Build Plan Template helps you organize your resources, timelines, and milestones to create a comprehensive plan for making your idea a reality. 

From concept to launch, the build plan template becomes a roadmap where you can visualize tasks and progress while getting real-time updates from your team. It’s perfect for gaining clarity in each project development phase. It helps you set realistic deadlines while using internal and external resources wisely.

ClickUp’s free Build Plan Template offers plenty of customization options, including statuses, fields, and views, so you can tweak the template to suit the needs of your team. Use this template to create innovative plans for your next big idea. 

This resource also works as a film production schedule template to align all departments and partners on development!

Are you trying to plan your next big software release? Keep your team on the same page with the ClickUp Release Planning Template . This is an alternative production planning template for those within the software development business. ClickUp designed the template to help oversee the launch of new software, giving you a way to organize your release plan strategically. 

Start with plotting tasks, milestones, and dependencies to anticipate and remove potential bottlenecks. The template provides an insight into your team’s progress through each phase and helps you coach them to better performance. 

From software inception to final deployment, the template creates a central hub for release planning, making it a seamless, collaborative effort. Take control over your release cycles and make them more efficient and effective for everyone involved. 

If you’re looking for Excel templates, Simple Sheets has you covered. Its Excel Production Schedule template allows you to manage every aspect of your production process, from supply chain to operation rates, custom orders, and more.

Simple Sheets has carefully designed the spreadsheet with smart auto-population to save you from too much manual entry. Excel-savvy users can customize the spreadsheet to closely meet their team’s workflow process. 

If you opt for this template, you’ll get all the benefits of working in the Excel environment, such as analyzing data and creating helpful charts to maximize efficiencies. The template is compatible with Google Sheets, too! 

Track All the Production Activities and Resources in ClickUp

A great production schedule can be the backbone of your operation. It transforms the most complex processes into organized management steps. With a well-planned production schedule, you can oversee the timely delivery of goods and services while optimizing your resources and keeping everyone accountable for their responsibilities. 

If you’re ready to take your production planning to the next level, check out ClickUp.

This productivity platform has a vast library of free templates to help you plan and organize your next project, whether refining an old project or developing something from the ground up. You can track tasks, allocate resources, and create timelines while working in a collaborative platform that puts communication and transparency first. 

Revolutionize your production process on the ClickUp platform today!

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Production Plan in Business Plan: A Comprehensive Guide to Success

Last Updated:  

May 27, 2024

In any business venture, a solid production plan is crucial for success. A production plan serves as a roadmap that outlines the steps, resources, and strategies required to manufacture products or deliver services efficiently. By carefully crafting a production plan within a business plan, entrepreneurs can ensure optimal utilisation of resources, timely delivery, cost efficiency, and customer satisfaction. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of creating an effective production plan in a business plan , exploring its key components, strategies, and the importance of aligning it with overall business objectives .

Key Takeaways on Production Plans in Business Planning

• A production plan : a detailed outline that guides efficient product manufacturing or service delivery.
• Importance of a production plan : provides a roadmap for operations, optimises resource utilisation, and aligns with customer demand.
• Key components : demand forecasting, capacity planning, inventory management, resource allocation, and quality assurance.
• Strategies : lean manufacturing, JIT inventory, automation and technology integration, supplier relationship management, and continuous improvement.
• Benefits of a well-executed production plan : improved efficiency, reduced costs, enhanced product quality, and increased profitability.

What is a Production Plan?

A production Seamless Searches plan is a detailed outline that specifies the processes, resources, timelines, and strategies required to convert raw materials into finished goods or deliver services. It serves as a blueprint for the entire production cycle, guiding decision-making and resource allocation. The production plan considers factors such as demand forecasting, capacity planning, inventory management, and quality assurance to ensure efficient operations and optimal customer satisfaction.

Why is a Production Plan Important in a Business Plan?

The inclusion of a production plan in a business plan is vital for several reasons. First and foremost, it provides a clear roadmap for business operations, helping entrepreneurs and managers make informed decisions related to production processes. A well-developed production plan ensures that resources are utilised efficiently, minimising wastage and optimising productivity. This is particularly important for any startup platform aiming to streamline its production processes and achieve sustainable growth.

Additionally, a production plan allows businesses to align their production capabilities with customer demand. By forecasting market trends and analysing customer needs, businesses can develop a production plan that caters to current and future demands, thus avoiding overstocking or understocking situations.

Furthermore, a production plan helps businesses enhance their competitive advantage. By implementing strategies such as lean manufacturing and invoice automation , companies can streamline their production processes, reduce costs, improve product quality, and ultimately outperform competitors.

Key Components of a Production Plan

To create an effective production plan, it is crucial to consider several key components. These components work together to ensure efficient operations and successful fulfilment of customer demands. Let's explore each component in detail.

Demand Forecasting

Demand forecasting is a critical aspect of production planning. By analysing historical data, market trends, and customer behaviour, businesses can predict future demand for their products or services. Accurate demand forecasting allows companies to optimise inventory levels, plan production capacity, and ensure timely delivery to customers.

One approach to demand forecasting is quantitative analysis, which involves analysing historical sales data to identify patterns and make predictions. Another approach is qualitative analysis, which incorporates market research, customer surveys, and expert opinions to gauge demand fluctuations. By combining both methods, businesses can develop a robust demand forecast, minimising the risk of underproduction or overproduction. Utilising a free notion template for demand forecasting can further streamline this process, allowing businesses to organise and analyse both quantitative and qualitative data efficiently in one centralised location.

Capacity Planning

Capacity planning involves determining the optimal production capacity required to meet projected demand. This includes assessing the production capabilities of existing resources, such as machinery, equipment, and labour, and identifying any gaps that need to be addressed. By conducting a thorough capacity analysis, businesses can ensure that their production capacity aligns with customer demand, avoiding bottlenecks or excess capacity.

An effective capacity plan takes into account factors such as production cycle times, labour availability, equipment maintenance, and production lead times. It helps businesses allocate resources efficiently, minimise production delays, and maintain a consistent level of output to meet customer expectations.

Inventory Management

Efficient inventory management is crucial for a successful production plan. It involves balancing the cost of holding inventory with the risk of stockouts. By maintaining optimal inventory levels, businesses can reduce carrying costs while ensuring that sufficient stock is available to fulfil customer orders.

Inventory management techniques, such as the Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) model and Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system, help businesses strike the right balance between inventory investment and customer demand. These methods consider factors such as order frequency, lead time, and carrying costs to optimise inventory levels and minimise the risk of excess or insufficient stock.

Resource Allocation

Resource allocation plays a pivotal role in a production plan. It involves assigning available resources, such as labour, materials, and equipment, to specific production tasks or projects. Effective resource allocation ensures that resources are utilised optimally, avoiding underutilisation or overutilisation.

To allocate resources efficiently, businesses must consider factors such as skill requirements, resource availability, project timelines, and cost constraints. By conducting a thorough resource analysis and implementing resource allocation strategies, businesses can streamline production processes, minimise bottlenecks, and maximise productivity.

Quality Assurance

Maintaining high-quality standards is essential for any production plan. Quality assurance involves implementing measures to monitor and control the quality of products or services throughout the production process. By adhering to quality standards and conducting regular inspections, businesses can minimise defects, ensure customer satisfaction, and build a positive brand reputation.

Quality assurance techniques, such as Total Quality Management (TQM) and Six Sigma , help businesses identify and rectify any quality-related issues. These methodologies involve continuous monitoring, process improvement, and employee training to enhance product quality and overall operational efficiency.

In addition to the core components of a production plan, it's also important for businesses to consider the broader aspects of their business strategy, including marketing and advertising. Understanding the costs and returns of different marketing approaches is crucial for comprehensive business planning. For instance, direct response advertising costs can vary significantly, but they offer the advantage of measurable responses from potential customers. This type of advertising can be a valuable strategy for businesses looking to directly engage with their target audience and track the effectiveness of their marketing efforts.

Strategies for Developing an Effective Production Plan

Developing an effective production plan requires implementing various strategies and best practices. By incorporating these strategies into the production planning process, businesses can optimise operations and drive success. Let's explore some key strategies in detail.

Lean Manufacturing

Lean manufacturing is a systematic Seamless Searches approach aimed at eliminating waste and improving efficiency in production processes. It emphasises the concept of continuous improvement and focuses on creating value for the customer while minimising non-value-added activities.

By adopting lean manufacturing principles, such as just-in-time production, standardised work processes, and visual management, businesses can streamline operations, reduce lead times, and eliminate unnecessary costs. Lean manufacturing not only improves productivity but also enhances product quality and customer satisfaction.

Just-in-Time (JIT) Inventory

Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory is a strategy that aims to minimise inventory levels by receiving goods or materials just when they are needed for production. This strategy eliminates the need for excess inventory storage, reducing carrying costs and the risk of obsolete inventory.

By implementing a JIT inventory system, businesses can optimise cash flow, reduce storage space requirements, and improve overall supply chain efficiency. However, it requires robust coordination with suppliers, accurate demand forecasting, and efficient logistics management to ensure timely delivery of materials.

Automation and Technology Integration

Automation and technology integration play a crucial role in modern production planning, as well as mobile app development . By leveraging technology, businesses can streamline processes, enhance productivity, and reduce human error. Automation can be implemented in various aspects of production, including material handling, assembly, testing, and quality control.

Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is a fundamental principle of effective production planning. It involves regularly evaluating production processes, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing changes to enhance efficiency and quality.

By fostering a culture of continuous improvement, businesses can drive innovation, optimise resource utilisation, and stay ahead of competitors. Techniques such as Kaizen, Six Sigma, and value stream mapping can help businesses identify inefficiencies, eliminate waste, and streamline production workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the role of a production plan in business planning.

A1: A production plan plays a crucial role in business planning by providing a roadmap for efficient production processes. It helps align production capabilities with customer demand, optimise resource utilisation, and ensure timely delivery of products or services.

How does a production plan affect overall business profitability?

A2: A well-developed production plan can significantly impact business profitability. By optimising production processes, reducing costs, and enhancing product quality, businesses can improve their profit margins and gain a competitive edge in the market.

What are the common challenges faced in production planning?

A3: Production planning can present various challenges, such as inaccurate demand forecasting, capacity constraints, supply chain disruptions, and quality control issues. Overcoming these challenges requires robust planning, effective communication, and the implementation of appropriate strategies and technologies.

What is the difference between short-term and long-term production planning?

A4: Short-term production planning focuses on immediate production requirements, such as daily or weekly schedules. Long-term production planning, on the other hand, involves strategic decisions related to capacity expansion, technology investments, and market expansion, spanning months or even years.

How can a production plan be adjusted to accommodate changes in demand?

A5: To accommodate changes in demand, businesses can adopt flexible production strategies such as agile manufacturing or dynamic scheduling. These approaches allow for quick adjustments to production levels, resource allocation, and inventory management based on fluctuating customer demand.

In conclusion, a well-crafted production plan is essential for business success. By incorporating a production plan into a comprehensive business plan, entrepreneurs can optimise resource utilisation, meet customer demands, enhance product quality, and drive profitability. Through effective demand forecasting, capacity planning, inventory management, resource allocation, and quality assurance, businesses can streamline production processes and gain a competitive edge in the market.

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Production planning and scheduling for manufacturing

Production planning and scheduling is essential to increase your manufacturing efficiency. Adjust your production schedule based on inventory, resources, and orders. Learn how with Katana.

James Humphreys

Production scheduling is essential for growing manufacturing operations to take their production to the next level. If you’re looking to maximize efficiency on your shop floor, you need a way to optimize your production planning and scheduling.

Nowadays, your scaling manufacturing business has many options for finding production planning software explicitly crafted for manufacturers.

This guide will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of manufacturing scheduling and how it can help you allocate your resources efficiently and cost-effectively to meet customer orders. So, read on to learn how to improve production scheduling in your scaling manufacturing business.

What’s the difference between planning and scheduling?

Production planning and scheduling are two key activities in manufacturing and operations management. Although closely related, they involve different aspects of the production process. Let’s take a closer look at the difference between these two concepts.

What is production planning?

Production planning is an important process that involves strategic decision-making to determine the optimal production strategy, resource allocation, and scheduling to meet customer demand and organizational objectives. It encompasses a comprehensive analysis of what products should be produced, in what quantities, and when.

By considering market demand, sales forecasts, and internal capabilities, production planning ensures efficient utilization of resources while maintaining a competitive edge in the market. This process plays a vital role in aligning the overall business strategy with the operational aspects of production, enabling companies to meet customer expectations, maximize productivity, and achieve their desired outcomes.

The main objectives of production planning include:

• Forecasting customer demand and market trends
• Setting production goals and objectives
• Determining the types and quantities of products to be produced
• Identifying the necessary resources (materials, equipment, labor, etc.)
• Allocating resources efficiently
• Developing manufacturing schedules and timelines

What is production scheduling?

Production scheduling is a vital process that entails the creation of a comprehensive and detailed timetable outlining the specific order and timing of production activities. It involves making critical decisions on when each task or operation should commence and conclude, taking into account resource availability, constraints, and dependencies.

By considering factors such as machine availability, labor capacity, and material availability, production scheduling aims to optimize efficiency and streamline workflow.

This process ensures that production tasks are executed in a coordinated manner, minimizing idle time, maximizing resource utilization, and ultimately facilitating the timely delivery of products.

Effective manufacturing scheduling plays a pivotal role in enhancing productivity, reducing costs, and maintaining a smooth and well-organized production process.

The primary objectives of production scheduling include:

• Sequencing the order of production tasks
• Assigning resources (equipment, labor, etc.) to specific tasks
• Minimizing idle time and maximizing resource utilization
• Adapting to changes in customer demand or unforeseen disruptions
• Ensuring timely delivery of products

In summary, production planning focuses on the big picture and long-term decisions to ensure that production activities align with the overall business strategy and customer demand. On the other hand, production scheduling focuses on short-term decisions that aim to optimize efficiency, minimize costs, and maintain a smooth workflow within the production process.

Both planning and scheduling are essential for effective production management and meeting customer demands efficiently.

The importance of production planning and scheduling

Production planning and scheduling are crucial aspects of a business’ operations and have significant importance for several reasons:

• Meeting customer demands — Effective manufacturing planning and scheduling ensure timely delivery of products in the required quantities, avoiding stockouts , minimizing lead times, and enhancing customer satisfaction.
• Optimal resource utilization — Proper planning and scheduling enable businesses to allocate resources efficiently, minimizing idle time, reducing costs, and maximizing productivity, leading to improved operational efficiency and resource utilization.
• Cost control — Accurate demand forecasting and efficient scheduling help avoid overproduction, minimize inventory holding costs, reduce setup times, eliminate bottlenecks, and optimize resource use, contributing to cost savings.
• Improved production efficiency — Effective planning streamlines production processes, eliminates inefficiencies, and reduces waste, optimizing production flow, reducing cycle times, and increasing overall efficiency.
• Timely decision-making — Well-defined plans facilitate informed decisions on resource allocation, production priorities, and capacity management, enabling adaptation to changes and ensuring timely production.
• Coordination and collaboration — Manufacturing planning and scheduling involve cooperation between departments, enhancing communication, improving coordination, and achieving a synchronized production process, reducing delays and enhancing operational efficiency.
• Scalability and growth — Well-designed production plans and schedules lay the foundation for handling increased demand, expanding operations, and adapting to market conditions. This helps to facilitate scalability and capitalizing on growth opportunities.
• Continuous improvement — Monitoring production performance, analyzing data, and evaluating schedules help identify areas for improvement, driving continuous optimization and maintaining a competitive edge.

So, if you want to ensure timely delivery, optimal resource utilization, cost control, improved efficiency, and scalability, you need to have a solid production plan.

5 stages of production planning and scheduling

Production planning and scheduling involve a systematic approach to ensure efficient and timely production of goods. The best way to achieve this is by dividing the process into four distinct stages, each serving a specific purpose.

These stages provide a structured framework for organizations to plan, schedule, and control their production processes effectively. Let’s explore each stage in detail.

1. Demand forecasting and capacity planning

The first production planning and scheduling stage involves demand forecasting and capacity planning.

Demand forecasting entails estimating future customer demand based on historical data, market trends, and other relevant factors. It helps organizations determine the expected demand volume and patterns for their products.

To forecast demand, you need to incorporate a variety of data, including:

• Historical sales performance
• Local and national taxes and regulations
• Current manufacturing trends and predictions
• Technological advancements

Learning and understanding your product demand will help you make the best choices when arranging and improving your operations.

Once the demand is forecasted, capacity planning comes into play.

It involves evaluating the production capacity and capabilities of the organization to determine if it can meet the projected demand. Factors such as workforce availability, equipment capacity, and facility constraints are taken into account during this stage.

The goal is to align the production capacity with the anticipated demand to avoid underutilization or overburdening of resources.

2. Material planning and procurement

The second stage focuses on inventory control , including material planning and procurement. In this stage, organizations identify the raw materials, components, and resources required for production. The quantities needed are determined based on the manufacturing schedule and demand forecast.

Efficient material planning ensures the timely availability of materials while minimizing inventory costs and the risk of shortages or excess stock.

Establishing strong supplier relationships is essential during this stage to ensure a reliable supply chain. Organizations collaborate with suppliers to coordinate delivery schedules, negotiate pricing, and maintain consistent quality standards.

Effective material planning and procurement help optimize production flow and prevent disruptions in the supply chain.

3. Scheduling and resource allocation

The third stage involves detailed scheduling and resource allocation. It focuses on creating a comprehensive production timeline and sequence of activities to ensure smooth operations.

Scheduling involves assigning tasks to different workstations or production lines, considering factors such as equipment availability, setup times, and dependencies between jobs.

Resource allocation is another crucial aspect of this stage. It entails determining the optimal allocation of labor, equipment, and other resources to specific production tasks. Balancing workloads, considering skill levels, and maximizing resource utilization are key considerations during resource allocation.

The goal is to create an efficient schedule that minimizes idle time, bottlenecks, and unnecessary delays.

4. Production control and monitoring

The fourth stage revolves around production control and monitoring. Once production is underway, it is essential to track work progress, ensure adherence to the planned schedule, and maintain quality standards. Production control is all about monitoring the production process, identifying deviations or bottlenecks, and taking corrective actions as necessary.

Efficient production control relies on real-time data collection, performance measurement, and analysis. It enables organizations to identify issues, make adjustments, and optimize the production flow. This stage also includes quality control measures to ensure the final output meets the required standards and customer expectations.

5. Master production schedules

Once your manufacturing plan looks achievable, you can progress to the next step, producing a master production schedule , the ultimate document for production.

Your master production schedule (MPS) will detail how many items need to be produced within a certain period. Most manufacturers use manufacturing technology to create an MPS that will provide real-time data and allow manufacturers to make production changes on the fly.

By effectively controlling and monitoring the production process, organizations can improve productivity, minimize waste, and ensure timely delivery of products to customers.

Download a production schedule template

Download this free production schedule template for Excel to create an efficient and accurate production plan for your business.

A simple production plan example

Imagine a small but modest workshop with five artisans making psychedelic T-shirts.

Each artisan works eight hours a day, from Monday to Friday. They follow a make-to-stock workflow in a job shop setting. It takes 2 hours to produce a single T-shirt.

The max capacity of this Funkadelic business is 200 hours .

In this scenario, the annual hippie fest is fast approaching — and looking at your historical data collection — the T-shirt makers expect to see a surge in sales. Last year they were overwhelmed, so this year, they have decided to put together a quick manufacturing plan a week before they expect an increase in demand. They also want to have a safety stock level of ten for each of their items.

As per their initial plan, they won’t be able to meet production requirements, but they can now use this knowledge to readjust their current production plan. They decide to limit the production of Far Out T-shirts to 40 and Peace T-shirts to 8 .

They can still meet the forecasted demand with the modified plan by sacrificing some of the safety stock.

However, this plan put their operations and resources at 100% capacity . If one of the artisans calls in sick on Wednesday evening, the max capacity for the week falls to 176 hours . When planning production, a rule of thumb is to have 20% free to give yourself wiggle room if a problem occurs.

The key factors to consider when scheduling production

Production planning is vital for any manufacturing business. Even basic products need a clear and defined flow to turn them from raw materials into quality goods. If you don’t follow this flow or your production quality control checklist , your products will surely drop in quality. Without a proper process, your standardized practices will be forgotten.

So, when scheduling the production, what are the key factors to consider?

Crew management

Use your team well.

Your people are a valuable asset to your business. They play a key part in manufacturing process optimization. Make it your business to know your people, including their strengths and weaknesses. This way, you can assign each team member to the most suitable tasks and machines.

If someone is sick or goes on holiday, you have the additional capacity to make up for the temporary loss.

Effective production planning allows you to get the most out of your people and machines. Every team member knows the tasks assigned to them and what their expected output is. Keeping tabs on this process lets you compensate for shortfalls and keep up with high demand.

Running at capacity

Is your workshop constantly running at 100% of its output?

It only takes a minor bump to bring things to a grinding halt. Capacity planning helps to make sure you’re not running at max capacity. If you do receive an unusually large order or two, you will be glad you prepared.

The same goes for your team, as they have enough resources to do their job on time.

Raw materials

Frequent stalls in production planning mean paying team members and machines to stand by.

Integrating a robust MRP or manufacturing ERP software into your business can help ensure you always have the required raw materials available. This means:

• You never have to push back production because of supply order delays or stockouts.
• Priority deadlines do not have to be set back due to undersupply.
• There’s no need to constantly step over excess raw materials on your shop floor.

If done right, warehousing and transport costs won’t skyrocket due to oversupply. As a bonus, every team member always has something to do as they work with your available materials.

Workshop logistics

The logistical flow of each part of your manufacturing process also requires consideration. This may not seem so important, but you would be surprised. Many production lines have come grinding to a halt as one weak link has been placed on the wrong stage.

Pushing machines and people to unsuitable locations can harm efficiency.

Sometimes, what seems like common sense could be harmful to your flow. It takes careful analysis to determine how materials, resources, people, and supplies travel around your shop floor.

It may be that a more efficient layout or order exists for your business. Sometimes a small change can make a world of difference to your production schedule.

Problem-solving

Trial-and-error problem-solving costs your business money through each failed attempt.

Overordering or overproducing is a band-aid solution, as this leads to extra costs or staff burnout. You need effective production planning software to track your flow and find manufacturing scheduling issues to get to the root of a problem.

Know your manufacturing processes

Understanding manufacturing planning and scheduling allow you to oversee your manufacturing methodically to overcome production issues easily.

Track and manage everything effectively, and everything should run like clockwork. Effective manufacturing scheduling makes it easier to do everything by the book — it is set out clearly for your whole team and is available 24/7.

Production planning KPIs

Now you know everything there is to know about putting together your production plan — the next step is understanding how to measure its effectiveness. Here are some KPIs to track to get you started:

• Manufacturing costs — Track how much it costs to produce an item by looking into raw materials, utilities, salaries, rent, etc.
• Capacity utilization rate — You don’t want resources running at max capacity, but you don’t want machinery or workstations sitting idle.
• Planned production vs. actual hours — This will help you better understand how long it takes to produce an item or uncover any issues which lead to delays on your shop floor.
• Employee utilization (productivity) — The same as your capacity rate. The only difference is that you don’t want to overwork them. Make sure you schedule your human resources reasonably to void burnout.
• Takt time — A lean manufacturing concept that looks into the actual time it takes to produce a single unit of item.

This checklist will guide you in creating your business analytics to observe your production and develop plans to make them even more efficient.

But, as you can tell, doing this is a long and arduous process, and many scaling manufacturers turn to automation to help them with this task.

How to optimize production scheduling

Optimizing production scheduling involves maximizing efficiency, minimizing costs, and ensuring timely delivery of products. Below you’ll find some strategies for optimizing manufacturing scheduling.

Demand-driven scheduling

Incorporate demand-driven scheduling by aligning manufacturing schedules with customer demand. Use accurate demand forecasting to determine the required production volume and adjust schedules accordingly. This approach helps avoid overproduction or underproduction and reduces excess inventory or stockouts.

Utilize advanced scheduling techniques

Employ advanced scheduling techniques such as finite capacity scheduling, just-in-time (JIT) scheduling, or theory of constraints (TOC) to optimize production schedules. These techniques consider capacity constraints, setup times, and dependencies between tasks to create efficient and realistic schedules.

Optimize resource allocation

Ensure optimal utilization of resources by assigning tasks based on skill levels, availability, and efficiency. Consider the capabilities and capacities of equipment, machinery, and workforce while allocating resources. Efficient resource allocation minimizes idle time, reduces bottlenecks, and improves overall productivity.

Minimize changeovers and setup times

Reduce changeover and setup times by implementing strategies like single-minute exchange of die (SMED). Streamlining changeover processes allows faster transitions between different product configurations, enabling shorter production runs and increased flexibility.

Implement real-time monitoring

Utilize real-time monitoring systems and production control tools to track progress, identify bottlenecks, and make data-driven decisions. Real-time data provides insights into the actual status of production, enabling prompt adjustments and proactive problem-solving.

Prioritize critical tasks

Identify critical tasks or processes that significantly impact the overall production timeline. Prioritize these and allocate resources accordingly to ensure timely completion. Focusing on critical tasks minimizes the risk of delays in the entire production process.

Consider production constraints

Take into account any constraints that may affect production scheduling, such as limited capacity, equipment maintenance schedules, or supplier lead times. By incorporating these constraints into the scheduling process, you can avoid scheduling conflicts and optimize production flow.

Implement lean manufacturing principles

Apply lean manufacturing principles such as just-in-time production , continuous flow, and waste reduction techniques to optimize production scheduling. Eliminate non-value-added activities, reduce inventory, and optimize process flows to improve overall efficiency.

Embrace technology

Utilize production scheduling software or manufacturing execution systems (MES) with advanced planning and scheduling capabilities. These tools automate the scheduling process, optimize resource allocation, and provide real-time visibility into production activities, enabling better decision-making and scheduling optimization.

Continuous improvement

Foster a culture of continuous improvement by regularly reviewing and analyzing production schedules, performance metrics, and feedback. Identify areas for improvement, implement changes, and monitor the impact of these adjustments. Continuously striving for optimization ensures ongoing efficiency gains in production scheduling.

By implementing these strategies, organizations can optimize their production scheduling processes, enhance operational efficiency, minimize costs, and deliver products on time, ultimately improving customer satisfaction and competitiveness.

Production planning and scheduling mistakes

Production planning and scheduling mistakes can lead to inefficiencies, delays, increased costs, and customer dissatisfaction. Let’s review some common mistakes to avoid in manufacturing planning and scheduling.

Inaccurate demand forecasting

Failing to accurately forecast customer demand can result in overproduction or underproduction. Overproduction leads to excess inventory and increased carrying costs , while underproduction can result in stockouts and missed sales opportunities. It is important to gather and analyze relevant data, consider market trends, and collaborate with sales and marketing teams to improve demand forecasting accuracy.

Insufficient capacity planning

Inadequate evaluation of production capacity can lead to resource constraints and bottlenecks. If the production capacity does not align with the forecasted demand, it can result in missed deadlines, backlogs, and delays in fulfilling customer orders. Conducting regular capacity assessments and considering factors such as equipment maintenance, workforce availability, and facility constraints are essential for effective manufacturing capacity planning .

Poor material planning

Inaccurate material planning can cause disruptions in the production process. Insufficient stock of raw materials or components can halt production, while excessive inventory ties up capital and increases storage costs. Utilizing efficient inventory management systems, establishing reliable supplier relationships, and continuously monitoring material requirements are crucial to avoid material planning errors.

Inefficient scheduling

Inefficient scheduling can lead to production issues, increased setup times, and idle resources. Poor task sequencing, inadequate consideration of setup times, and neglecting resource availability can result in unnecessary delays and production bottlenecks. Utilizing advanced scheduling techniques, considering the dependencies between tasks, and optimizing resource allocation is vital for efficient scheduling.

Lack of flexibility

Failure to incorporate flexibility in manufacturing planning and scheduling can make it challenging to adapt to unforeseen events or changes in demand. Market fluctuations, machine breakdowns, and supplier delays can disrupt the planned schedule. It is important to build contingency plans, have backup suppliers, and maintain buffer capacity to accommodate unexpected disruptions and maintain operational continuity.

Ignoring feedback and continuous improvement

Neglecting to gather feedback from the production floor, customer feedback, and performance metrics can hinder process improvement.

Regularly reviewing production performance, analyzing data, and actively seeking feedback from relevant stakeholders can help identify areas for improvement and drive continuous optimization in production planning and scheduling.

Lack of communication and collaboration

Poor communication and collaboration among departments can lead to misalignment and delays. Production planning and scheduling require coordination among different teams, including sales, operations, procurement, and logistics.

Clear communication channels, regular cross-functional meetings, and shared visibility of information are essential for effective collaboration and synchronization of activities.

By avoiding these common production planning and scheduling mistakes and adopting best practices, organizations can enhance their operational efficiency, minimize costs, and improve customer satisfaction by consistently delivering products on time and as per requirements.

Can you use Excel for production planning?

The absence of affordable production planning software has led to many manufacturers using inefficient spreadsheets .

There are three main problems with this approach:

• Spreadsheets are slow — It may be better than doing it with a pen and paper, but Excel is still too labor-intensive.
• Spreadsheets are error-prone — They are vulnerable to mistakes that cause confusion, production delays, and business-disrupting problems.
• Spreadsheets are static — They do not update automatically. This can lead to delays as changes are not communicated.

Many modern manufacturers are stuck with Excel because they can’t see better options.

This is understandable. Most manufacturers do not need the gargantuan flow diagrams and Gantt charts seen in large enterprise software. Shop-bought software like Excel seems like a quick and easy option.

But it is not powerful enough for using production management effectively.

Production planning and scheduling with Katana

The best way to avoid production planning mistakes and implement different optimization techniques is through software. Katana is a cloud manufacturing platform that allows you to do all that and more. It offers advanced features with an intuitive interface, so you don’t need a 3-month boot camp to start using it.

Let’s have a look at what production planning with Katana looks like.

The Production operations tab lets you do production planning as it automatically assigns team members and workstations to each process your manufacturing orders require. It also calculates all the resources needed and associated costs.

The Make screen lets you review all outstanding manufacturing tasks. If something comes up, or you want to change tack, simply reorganize your manufacturing queue, and Katana’s real-time master planner reallocates all resources to ensure the prioritized orders get out of the door first.

Production planning with Katana allows you to:

• Generate forecasts and plan inventory
• Prevent idle time in your workshop
• Significantly reduce scheduling errors
• Generate accurate, realistic deadlines
• Minimize inventory transport and storage costs
• Identify inefficiencies that could lead to production bottlenecks
• Gets products out the door and to customers on time

Take control of your production processes with Katana. Request a demo today to see it in action.

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What Is a Production Schedule, and What Should It Include?

Discover the importance of a production schedule and its main components. Use Motion to create a comprehensive production schedule that meets deadlines.

As a business owner or manager, you know that time is money. That’s why having a well-planned production schedule is crucial to the success of your business, whether you’re producing cars, cakes, or content. 

Often overlooked, this behind-the-scenes process is the heart of any production operation, orchestrating the seamless coordination between resources, tasks, and timelines.

While production scheduling has always been important, technological advancements and data-driven approaches have changed the game.

The old days of static spreadsheets and disjointed workflows are fading away. Now, a wave of innovation is empowering businesses to streamline their operations, minimize their downtime, and increase their productivity.

Ready to maximize output like never before? We’ll tell you how to create and implement a production schedule — and how Motion can help.

What is a production schedule?

A production schedule is a detailed plan that outlines the specific activities and timeline for producing goods or services. It is a crucial component of production management, helping businesses efficiently allocate resources and meet production targets.

In simple terms, a production schedule is like a to-do list for a business to make things. It is a plan that shows what needs to be done, when it should be done, and how long it will take to complete each task.

Imagine you have a bakery, and you want to make and sell different types of cakes. A production schedule would outline the specific steps and timings for making each cake.

For example, it might say that on Monday morning, you need to gather all the ingredients, and in the afternoon, you mix the batter. You bake the cakes on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, you decorate them. The schedule also includes when the cakes will be ready for sale.

A production schedule helps you organize your work and ensure everything happens smoothly. It helps you know what needs to be done next and how long it will take so that you can plan your resources accordingly.

That way, you can avoid running out of supplies, manage your time effectively, and deliver your project on time — satisfying your customers.

Considerations to make when creating a production schedule

There are a few factors you should consider when crafting a production schedule. Here are just a few of them:

Production capacity

How much can you produce within the given timeframe?

Production capacity is the maximum number of goods that you can produce within a given timeframe. Establishing this number before creating your schedule is important, as it will affect the timeline for each production run.

Demand forecast

How much demand do you think there will be for your product or service?

Estimating how much demand there will be for your product or service will help you to plan how much to produce at each step of the process. You can use past sales data, market research, and other information to make an educated guess.

How long will the process take, from the raw material procurement to the final product delivery?

Lead time is the amount of time it takes from when you order raw materials to when you deliver the final product. This factor can have a big impact on how long it takes to complete each run, so make sure to factor it in when creating your schedule.

Material availability

Do you have all the raw materials, components, and supplies you need?

Having all the items you need is vital to completing a run successfully. Unfortunately, only  22% of companies  have a proactive supply chain, which means that most businesses struggle with material availability. So be sure to plan ahead before starting a new production run.

Equipment and machinery

Do you have the right equipment to manufacture your goods?

Make sure you have the correct tools and other equipment throughout the production schedule. Be sure to check that all of your equipment is functioning properly and that you have backups in case of breakdowns.

Labor availability and skills

Do you have the right number of people, and do they have the correct skills? 

Having enough workers with the right skills helps ensure that production will run smoothly and finish on time. 

What goes into a production schedule?

Creating a production schedule takes a bit of time and effort, but it’s worth it to ensure that you meet your  long-term goals . Here is a list of information to include in your production schedule for timely delivery and quality outcomes:

‎Tasks and activities

This is the first and most crucial step in creating a production schedule. List all the tasks involved in the production process, from procuring the raw materials to shipping and packaging. That way, everyone involved in the process can understand what’s expected of them.

A good task manager can help you keep track of everything as you go along. Check out  Motion’s Task Manager  to help you stay on top of your tasks.

Sequence of operations

Next, determine the order in which you need to execute your tasks. Arranging the tasks in a logical sequence helps keep the production process moving smoothly and delays at bay.

Set start and end dates for each task or activity in the production schedule to keep everything on track. This allows everyone involved to keep the expected delivery date in mind and work to ensure that all tasks are completed on time.

Resource allocation

This part of creating a production schedule is about making sure the right people have the necessary resources at each stage. Ensure that everyone can do their tasks efficiently through either skilled labor or  productivity tools .

Constraints and considerations

It’s highly unlikely that your production schedule will go off without a hitch. Even the most comprehensive plan can encounter hurdles, including unforeseen challenges or delays, at any time.

Make a list of constraints and considerations that could potentially derail your production schedule. These could relate to budget, legal requirements, customer demand, or market conditions. It’s a good idea to incorporate extra time to account for any unexpected events.

Benefits of creating a production schedule

Creating a production schedule has many benefits. Planning ahead lets your team accomplish more in less time.

Efficient use of resources

Up to  20% of every dollar spent  in the manufacturing industry is wasted.

‎A well-designed production schedule can help you efficiently allocate resources, thus reducing wastage and overall costs. 

Improved productivity

A production schedule acts as a kind of  product roadmap  that everyone on the team can follow in pursuit of a common  work goal . With clearly defined roles and deadlines, team members know what’s expected of them and can work more efficiently and productively.

Delivering products on time

With a work schedule in place, your team will know exactly when each product will be ready for market. This can help you set realistic and achievable deadlines.

Team alignment

When every team member has access to a production schedule, they’re aware of each other’s workloads and can plan their work accordingly. This can help prevent confusion and optimize team productivity.

Using Motion to create a production schedule enhances  team collaboration  and coordination among team members. A centralized platform for task and deadline management is a great way to keep everyone aligned throughout the production process.

Continuous improvement

Your production schedule can provide insights into what’s working and what isn’t. You can use this information to make adjustments and improve the process in the future. This helps your team remain nimble and responsive to change, improving your organization’s resilience in the face of competitors.

One concrete example of continuous improvement in manufacturing comes from  The Raymond Corporation . They implemented lean management techniques, such as defect reduction, visual management, and active quality control circles. Because of these initiatives, the company was able to double its production volume and increase overall quality by 35% over three years. Such remarkable growth in production efficiency could not have been achieved without a culture of continuous improvement.

More satisfied customers

Delivering quality goods on time and in full helps you build a good reputation among your customers. This can translate to repeat business and more referrals. When you prioritize quality and delivery, you give customers a reason to come back for more.

5 stages of production scheduling

Creating a clear and robust production schedule is easier when you break the process down into stages. The five stages of production scheduling are as follows:

‎1. Planning‍

Set production goals and assess the availability of resources to achieve them. You can then create a plan that outlines the specific steps you need to take to meet those goals. 

Production planning is vital to ensuring that your team knows the direction in which they’re heading and that everyone is on the same page.

Routing involves identifying the operations required to produce each product and the most efficient production path. Carefully analyze every step in the production process, from gathering the raw materials to the product’s completion. 

The goal here is to come up with a streamlined production process that minimizes waste, maximizes output, and meets the quality standards you set.

3. Scheduling‍

Essentially, this step involves creating a timeline to ensure that each stage of production is completed on time.

Assign start and end dates for each operation. Assess the production capacity needed for them, and ensure that resources are available as necessary. 

4. Dispatching‍

Next, issue work orders to the production team and assign tasks to individual workers. 

At this stage, it’s essential to ensure that each worker knows what they’re supposed to do during the process. Clear communication between team members is crucial to ensuring that everyone works effectively.

5. Execution‍

The fifth and final stage is execution. 

At this stage, the team follows the production plan according to the schedule and work orders. You monitor progress and adjust the manufacturing schedule as needed to ensure that everything runs smoothly. The goal is to run an efficient production process, meet the quality standards you set, and produce output on time.

Keep your production schedule on track with Motion

A production schedule can make or break the success of any project. Luckily, there’s an easy and effective way to streamline the production scheduling process: Motion.

Motion automates the process of production scheduling, eliminating the tedious and time-consuming aspects of the job. With it, you can easily keep your team members informed and on track, ensuring that each step of the production process is completed on time and within budget.

Whether you’re new to project management or a seasoned professional, Motion can help take your operations to the next level. So why not give it a try today? Sign up for a  free 7-day trial .

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The Ultimate Guide to Efficient Production Planning and Scheduling

• Key Takeaways

According to Statista, 85% of manufacturers consider production planning and scheduling software crucial for their operations in 2024.  

Gartner’s latest report reveals that by 2024, AI-driven production planning solutions will reduce manufacturing downtime by 30% globally.  

SEMrush data from 2024 shows that companies integrating advanced scheduling technologies experience a 25% increase in production efficiency.

Effective production planning and scheduling are vital for maximizing productivity, minimizing costs, and meeting customer demands efficiently.

Monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) and leveraging data-driven insights drive continuous optimization and enhance competitiveness in the manufacturing landscape.

Have you ever wondered how products magically appear on store shelves exactly when you need them? Behind this seemingly effortless process lies the intricate art of production planning and scheduling. Picture a symphony where each note is meticulously orchestrated to create a harmonious melody. Similarly, production planning harmonizes demand forecasts, resource allocation, and scheduling to ensure products are available when and where they are needed. But what does it truly entail, and how does it shape the world of manufacturing?

Overview of Production Planning

• Definition and purpose of production planning

Production planning is the strategic process used in manufacturing to determine the what, when, and how of production. It involves forecasting demand, scheduling production activities, and allocating resources efficiently to meet market demands. The main goal is to optimize the use of resources, minimize production costs, and ensure timely delivery of products.

• Importance in the manufacturing process
• Central to the manufacturing process, production planning ensures resources are used efficiently, reducing waste and maximizing output.
• It helps in scheduling the production runs, maintaining inventory at optimal levels, and improving the overall productivity of the manufacturing unit.
• Proper planning can lead to increased production capacity, improved product quality, and higher customer satisfaction.
• Relationship between production planning and business strategy
• Production planning is tightly interwoven with business strategy, impacting a company’s ability to meet market demands and achieve financial targets.
• Strategic planning in production helps in aligning manufacturing goals with the business objectives, enhancing the ability to respond to competitive pressures and market opportunities.
• It supports long-term business success by ensuring that the manufacturing process is efficient, cost-effective, and aligned with the broader business goals.

The Production Planning Process

• Steps involved in production planning
• Identify Objectives: Establish clear goals for production, including quantity, quality, and timeline requirements.
• Demand Forecasting: Analyze market trends, historical data, and sales forecasts to predict future product demand.
• Resource Assessment: Evaluate the availability of resources such as materials, labor, and machinery needed for production.
• Capacity Planning: Determine the production capacity to meet forecasted demand, considering constraints like machine availability and labor skills.
• Process Design: Define the production process, including the sequence of operations, required equipment, and labor needs.
• Scheduling: Develop a detailed production schedule that outlines when and where each product will be manufactured.
• Execution: Implement the production plan, coordinating resources and monitoring the production process.
• Monitoring and Control: Track production progress, compare actual performance against the plan, and make adjustments as needed.
• Key phases from demand forecasting to final execution
• Demand Forecasting Phase: Involves analyzing past sales data, market trends, and economic indicators to predict future product demand.
• Planning Phase: Translates the forecasted demand into a viable production plan, determining the quantity of products to be produced and the required resources.
• Scheduling Phase: Involves creating a timeline for when each task in the production process should be completed.
• Execution Phase: The actual production takes place based on the planning and scheduling phases, with a focus on efficiency and adherence to the plan.
• Monitoring and Control Phase: Ongoing assessment of the production process to ensure it aligns with the plan, with adjustments made as necessary to address any issues.
• Role of technology in modern production planning
• Automation of Tasks: Technology automates repetitive tasks in the production planning process, increasing efficiency and reducing errors.
• Data Analysis and Forecasting: Advanced data analytics tools help in accurately forecasting demand and optimizing resource allocation.
• Real-time Monitoring: Modern systems provide real-time visibility into the production process, enabling quick decision-making and adjustments.
• Integration of Systems: Technology integrates various aspects of production planning, such as inventory management, procurement, and scheduling, for streamlined operations.
• Machine Learning and AI: These technologies are increasingly used to predict trends, automate scheduling, and optimize production processes for better outcomes.

Types of Production Planning

• Flow Production Planning and its Characteristics
• Definition : Flow production planning involves continuous movement of materials through the production process. This method is often used in large-scale manufacturing where products go through a series of steps and processes in a fixed sequence.
• Standardization : Products are usually standardized, allowing for a streamlined and efficient production process.
• Automation : High levels of automation are common, reducing manual labor and increasing consistency.
• Continuous Operation : Production runs continuously over long periods, optimizing machinery use and reducing setup times.
• High Volume : Suitable for high-volume production where demand is consistent and predictable.
• Cost Efficiency : Economies of scale can be achieved, lowering the per-unit cost of production.
• Mass Production Planning and its Efficiency
• Definition : Mass production planning is focused on producing large quantities of standardized products. It is characterized by the assembly line system where each worker or machine performs a specific task repetitively.
• Economies of Scale : Significant reduction in cost per unit as production volume increases.
• Standardized Products : Uniformity in products helps in streamlining the manufacturing process and reducing variability.
• Specialized Labor and Machinery : Workers and machines specialize in specific tasks, increasing speed and efficiency.
• Inventory Management : Often involves maintaining large inventories to ensure a continuous production flow.
• Time-Saving : The assembly line reduces the time taken from start to finish, enhancing overall productivity.
• Process Production Planning and its Application
• Definition : Process production planning is used in industries where production is continuous and the output is in the form of a product flow, such as chemicals, oil, and gas.
• Continuous Flow : Production occurs in a continuous, unbroken flow through a series of processes or operations.
• Chemical Processes : Commonly used in chemical manufacturing where raw materials undergo chemical reactions to form new products.
• Customization and Flexibility : Allows for some level of customization, depending on the complexity of the process and the end-product requirements.
• Quality Control : Rigorous quality control is essential to ensure that the output remains consistent and meets the required standards.
• Integration with Other Systems : Often integrated with other production and business planning systems to ensure smooth operations and efficient resource use.

Demand Forecasting and Product Demand Planning

• Techniques for predicting market demand
• Historical Sales Analysis: Examining past sales data to identify trends and patterns that can predict future demand.
• Market Research: Conducting surveys, interviews, and focus groups to gather information on consumer preferences and buying behaviors.
• Delphi Method: Using a panel of experts to forecast demand through iterative rounds of questioning and consensus building.
• Time Series Analysis: Employing statistical techniques to model and forecast future demand based on historical time series data.
• Econometric Modeling: Utilizing advanced statistical methods to forecast demand by considering various economic factors like GDP, unemployment rates, and consumer spending.
• Impact of demand forecasting on production planning
• Resource Allocation: Accurate demand forecasting helps in determining the required quantity of resources, including labor, materials, and machinery, ensuring they are adequately allocated to meet production needs.
• Inventory Management: Facilitates optimal inventory levels, preventing overstocking or stockouts, and reducing holding costs.
• Capacity Planning: Assists in planning the production capacity needed to meet future demand, helping in the decision-making process for expansion or downsizing.
• Lead Time Reduction: Enables better planning of the production schedule, reducing lead times and improving customer satisfaction.
• Risk Management: Provides a basis for identifying potential risks in the supply chain and developing strategies to mitigate them.
• Tools and software used in demand planning
• SAP Integrated Business Planning (SAP IBP): Offers advanced analytics for demand planning, helping businesses to make accurate forecasts and optimize inventory levels.
• Oracle Demand Management Cloud: Provides capabilities for demand sensing, shaping, and forecasting, helping to improve the accuracy of demand predictions.
• IBM Planning Analytics: Uses AI and machine learning to provide insights into demand trends, helping businesses to forecast demand more accurately.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management: Includes demand forecasting features that allow for the creation of demand forecasts based on historical data.
• Anaplan: A cloud-based platform that provides tools for demand planning, allowing businesses to model different scenarios and their potential impacts on demand.

Material Requirement Planning (MRP)

• Understanding the MRP System
• What It Is: Material Requirement Planning (MRP) is a system used to manage manufacturing processes. It helps in planning and controlling inventory levels, production, and delivery schedules.
• Functionality: MRP calculates the materials needed for production and the timing to procure them. It uses data from production schedules, inventory records, and bill of materials (BOM) to ensure that materials are available for production and products are ready for delivery.
• Integration with ERP: MRP is often integrated within larger Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems like SAP ERP or Oracle NetSuite. This integration allows for a more comprehensive view of the company’s operations and resources.
• How MRP Integrates with Production Planning
• Seamless Coordination: MRP ensures that the manufacturing process has the necessary materials at the right time and place. It aligns the production schedule with material availability, reducing downtime and increasing efficiency.
• Data-Driven Planning: Through integration with production planning, MRP systems like Microsoft Dynamics 365, Infor CloudSuite Industrial, or Epicor ERP use real-time data to adjust plans based on actual performance, inventory levels, and demand forecasts.
• Streamlined Processes: MRP integrates with other aspects of production planning to provide a streamlined process, from order intake to final delivery. This integration helps in coordinating production cycles, reducing lead times, and improving customer satisfaction.
• Benefits of MRP in Inventory Management and Cost Reduction
• Inventory Optimization: MRP helps in maintaining optimal inventory levels, reducing excess stock, and minimizing shortages. Tools like Fishbowl Inventory or MRPeasy are designed to automate inventory control, helping businesses avoid overproduction and underproduction.
• Cost Savings: By ensuring materials are purchased only as needed and reducing waste, MRP systems contribute to significant cost savings. It reduces carrying costs of inventory and minimizes the risk of obsolescence.
• Efficiency Improvement: MRP enables more efficient use of resources by scheduling production runs at the optimal time, based on material availability. This leads to smoother operations and reduced production costs.
• Analytical Insights: With advanced MRP software like SAP ERP or Oracle NetSuite, companies gain insights into their operations, helping them make informed decisions about procurement, production scheduling, and inventory management.

Scheduling in Production Planning

• Different Types of Scheduling Methods
• Forward Scheduling : This method schedules tasks as soon as the resources are available, moving forward from the current date. It’s useful for meeting customer demand promptly but can lead to increased inventory costs if production outpaces demand.
• Backward Scheduling : Begins with the end date (due date) and schedules tasks in reverse order to meet this deadline. It’s effective for ensuring on-time delivery but can put pressure on the production process to meet tight deadlines.
• Resource Leveling Scheduling : Aims to minimize fluctuations in resource usage. This method smooths out the demand for resources, reducing peaks and troughs in resource allocation and ensuring a more consistent workload.
• Critical Path Method (CPM) : Identifies the longest stretch of dependent tasks and measures the time required to complete them. This method focuses on critical tasks that impact the project timeline, helping to prioritize activities to prevent delays.
• Importance of Scheduling in Production Efficiency
• Optimizes Resource Use: Good scheduling makes sure resources are used well, cutting down on wasted time and getting the most out of what’s available.
• Reduces Production Time: Planning carefully what needs to be done and when helps speed up how quickly things get made.
• Improves On-time Delivery: Making sure production matches delivery deadlines means products are ready when they’re supposed to be, making customers happier.
• Enhances Flexibility: Having a solid schedule helps companies handle unexpected changes better, keeping things running smoothly even when things don’t go as planned.
• Tools and Techniques for Effective Scheduling
• Microsoft Project: Microsoft Project helps you plan your projects. It has tools like Gantt charts to schedule tasks and manage resources.
• Asana: Asana helps teams keep track of their projects. You can set deadlines and see how tasks are progressing in real-time.
• Trello: Trello is a simple way to manage tasks. It uses cards to organize your work and visualize your workflow, great for small projects.
• Primavera P6: Primavera P6 is for big projects. It helps plan, schedule, and control large-scale projects, especially in fields like construction and engineering.
• Monday.com: Monday.com is a flexible tool for planning and tracking work. It supports scheduling, time tracking, and setting up workflows, perfect for teams of any size.

Challenges in Production Planning and Scheduling

• Common Obstacles in Production Planning and Scheduling:
• Lack of accurate demand forecasting tools like SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP) or Oracle Demand Management.
• Inadequate communication between departments, which can be addressed with tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams.
• Insufficient data analytics capabilities, highlighting the need for solutions like Tableau or Power BI for data visualization and analysis.
• Impact of Supply Chain Disruptions on Production Planning:
• Delays in raw material procurement due to supply chain disruptions like those caused by global events (e.g., COVID-19).
• Shortages of critical components affecting production schedules, which can be mitigated with tools such as Kinaxis RapidResponse for supply chain management.
• Transportation and logistics challenges leading to delays in receiving materials or delivering finished products, requiring solutions like Descartes or MercuryGate for supply chain optimization.
• Strategies for Flexible and Responsive Planning:
• Implementing agile manufacturing principles using methodologies like Kanban or Lean Production.
• Utilizing advanced planning and scheduling (APS) software such as Preactor or PlanetTogether to optimize production schedules and adapt to changes quickly.
• Developing contingency plans and alternative sourcing strategies to address supply chain disruptions effectively.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Metrics

• Essential KPIs for Evaluating Production Planning Effectiveness:
• Production Efficiency Ratio (PER): Measures the ratio of actual production output to the maximum potential output, indicating how efficiently resources are utilized.
• On-time Delivery Performance: Tracks the percentage of orders delivered on time, reflecting the reliability and effectiveness of production planning.
• Inventory Turnover: Calculates how many times inventory is sold and replaced within a specific period, indicating production and sales alignment.
• Resource Utilization Rate: Measures the utilization of resources like machinery, labor, and raw materials, indicating efficiency in resource allocation .
• Production Cost Variance: Compares actual production costs to budgeted costs, highlighting cost control and efficiency in production processes.
• How to Measure and Improve Production Planning Performance:
• Businesses use software like SAP or Oracle to plan production, check progress, and find ways to improve.
• Companies use lean methods like JIT and TQM to reduce waste, improve processes, and get better results.
• Monitoring key numbers, listening to production teams, and regularly checking progress help find problems and improve operations.
• Training programs help employees learn planning tools and improve decision-making, making them better at their jobs.
• The Role of Analytics in Production Planning and Improvement:
• Predictive Analytics: Using tools like Tableau or Power BI to guess what might happen, like how many products will be needed, how much stock should be kept, and how to plan production better.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Using data and charts to make smart decisions, spot patterns, and plan production better.
• Real-time Monitoring: Using smart sensors and machines to watch production as it happens, catch problems early, and fix them quickly to make production smoother and better.
• Collaborative Planning Platforms: Using tools like Asana or Trello to help teams work together, talk, and plan production in a way that’s easy and efficient.

Good production planning and scheduling are very important for factories to work well. They help in delivering things on time, using resources wisely, saving money, and working better. By guessing how much people will want, planning what to use wisely, making good schedules, and checking things regularly, companies can deal with problems, change plans, and keep working smoothly. Trying new tools and watching how well things go helps businesses make good decisions, get better all the time, and stay ahead in manufacturing.

• Q. What is production planning, and why is it important? 

Production planning is the process of organizing resources to ensure efficient manufacturing. It’s crucial for optimizing productivity, minimizing costs, and meeting customer demand effectively.

• Q. How does technology impact production planning? 

Technology such as AI and automation enhances accuracy, efficiency, and decision-making in production planning. It enables real-time data analysis, predictive modeling, and streamlines communication for better coordination.

• Q. What are the common challenges in production scheduling? 

Challenges in scheduling include managing complex workflows, handling unforeseen disruptions, and balancing resource allocation. Effective planning, flexibility, and proactive problem-solving are key to overcoming these challenges.

• Q. What are the benefits of integrating production planning and scheduling? 

Integration leads to improved operational efficiency, reduced lead times, optimized resource utilization, and better coordination between departments. It ensures timely production and enhances overall business performance.

• Q. How can companies measure the success of production planning? 

Key performance indicators (KPIs) such as production cycle time, resource utilization, on-time delivery, and cost per unit are used to measure the effectiveness of production planning. Regular performance evaluations and data analysis drive continuous improvement.

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What Is Production Scheduling and Why Is It Important?

By Joe Weller | March 9, 2023

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If you walk into a store and see that your favorite brand of frozen pizza is out of stock, you’ll probably be disappointed and choose a different item. Customers often opt for convenience, especially with so many different product variations available.

Companies shouldn’t lose revenue and let customers slip through the cracks by underestimating demand and resources or failing to meet deadlines. Production scheduling helps you anticipate demand, stock resources, manage labor, and prioritize on-time production in order to avoid these crucial business objectives.

In this guide, you’ll learn the importance of production scheduling , the steps for creating a schedule , and optimization practices to help keep your company on track .

What Is Production Scheduling?

Production scheduling is the process of determining when products will be manufactured to maximize efficiency while limiting stockouts and unbalanced inputs and outputs. This process includes optimizing where, when, how, and what materials you will use to manufacture your products.

A successful production schedule will help you do the following:

• Plan for changing supply and demand
• Organize workers and contingency plans
• Maintain stock , even with delays
• Refine efficiency and note areas of possible improvement
• Standardize communication across a company
• Determine costs for parts and labor
• Identify opportunities for improvement
• Eliminate disruptions to workflow
• Establish relationships with vendors and other third parties
• Improve visibility across all company platforms

These schedules are flexible documents, and may include different variables relevant to the current production period. A successful production schedule will also report on critical supply chain key performance indicators (KPIs), including the following:

• Performance, daily or otherwise
• Reductions in cost
• Service rates
• Production times
• Cycle times
• Order management

Production Scheduling vs. Production Planning

While a production schedule is determined by short-term factors, production planning takes a longer time frame into consideration. Production plans are determined by the ideal times to produce products for on-time deliveries, capacity plans, and material requirements. 

Production schedules are relatively flexible and adapt to changes in manufacturing operations, but production plans are required to stick to predetermined timelines. Production planning also considers the following:

• Type and amount of necessary product
• Raw materials
• Required workstations

The Importance of Production Scheduling

Production scheduling is a crucial part of the manufacturing process that helps to ensure efficient production times, decrease costs and product shortages, and eliminate interruptions, delays, and waste. 

Production scheduling also concerns the following eight elements:

• Parts Distribution: Production schedules reduce bottlenecks and downtime by distributing the correct type and number of parts to workers throughout the production timeline.
• Stock Levels: Scheduling helps guarantee that you maintain stock levels, keep warehouses organized, and can account for all outputs.
• Labor Distribution: A production schedule can help you record and maintain working hours, overtime, and the number of workers needed during a shift or production period.
• Equipment Performance: Equipment analysis and scheduling allow manufacturers to optimize workstations and equipment usage, which reduces the need to purchase extra or overuse equipment.
• Finance Optimization: Schedules help companies allocate resources efficiently and optimally, which decreases financial emergencies and increases the reliability of available funds.
• Product Quality: Optimally planned production schedules can increase the quality of products across a shorter time frame.
• Customer Relationships: Production schedules help keep customer orders fulfilled on time, and can help increase satisfaction, trust, and brand loyalty.
• Company Reputation: Companies that optimize manufacturing schedules are known for being timely, economical, and considerate of both their workers and customers.

Production templates can help you keep these priorities in mind while creating a top-notch schedule personalized for your organization.

Six Production Scheduling Steps

Creating a production schedule requires you to balance customer needs with your organization’s available time and resources. Whether you’re creating a product or producing a video , your production schedule should consider or include steps for planning, routing, scheduling, dispatching, executing, and maintaining.

These six steps are outlined in more detail below.

1. Planning

During the first step, a company will analyze resources, budgets, staff, stock, and timelines to evaluate the status of the production processes. There are two types of planning methodologies:

• Static Planning: This type of planning assumes nothing will change during the production process.
• Dynamic Planning: This type of planning assumes anything could change during the production process. 

At this stage, you should also set strategic goals and calculate labor and capacity.

In the routing step, a company will determine the path that raw materials must take from their original form to a finished product. This also includes determining the most efficient, cost-effective steps in the manufacturing processes.

3. Scheduling

This step is used to officially determine the dates and times for a project using a company’s specific methodology. You can create different types of schedules, including the following:

• Master Schedules: Full-scale, summary-level schedules that include breakdowns for labor, routing, resources, and more.
• Manufacturing Schedules: These are more limited schedules that only include the routing steps.
• Retail Operations Schedules: These are retail-focused schedules that include routing steps for retail and e-commerce products.

4. Dispatching

Dispatching refers to issuing orders concerning the locations of people, parts, and products. In this step, a company determines how these items will reach their designated locations during the entire scheduling process.

5. Executing

This is when the company actually carries out the production schedule from beginning to end — and thus, sinks or swims. If researched and created effectively, the schedule should create a smooth production process.

6. Maintaining

After a company executes the production schedule, two-way communication between management and workers begins. This step can help a company determine areas for improvement, which it can then take action on.

Production Scheduling Methods

While there are six main steps to the production scheduling process, there are different methods companies can use to optimize their own systems. Capacity planning and forward and backward scheduling are the most common methods used to create production schedules.

Capacity Planning

If client satisfaction is a main concern for your company, consider capacity planning as your main scheduling method. Capacity planning is mainly concerned with resource availability, service delivery, and customer satisfaction.  

There are two main types of capacity planning:

• Infinite Capacity: This method assumes there are no resource limitations — including workers, workstations, parts, and stock.
• Finite Capacity: This method assumes there are predefined limitations for working hours, resources, equipment availability, labor, and other factors.

Companies with a few larger, simultaneous projects should consider an infinite capacity methodology, while those with many simultaneous complex projects will likely benefit from finite capacity. If you are considering using this methodology for your production scheduling, capacity planning templates can help you quickly produce schedules specific to your company’s resources.

Forward and Backward Scheduling

You can also use forward and backward scheduling to determine a project’s production order. This method bases the project timeline on either the first step or the due date, as described below:

• Forward Scheduling: In this method, you determine the timeline by first looking at the time of the earliest step and scheduling the following steps one by one.
• Backward Scheduling: In this method, you base the project timeline off the due date and schedule and work backward from there.

Backward scheduling is also known as a workback schedule and is best suited for a project with a hard deadline. If you’re using a forward and backward scheduling methodology, first determine if your project depends on strict due dates or tight schedules.

How to Optimize Production Scheduling

Since there are different methodologies, contributors, and factors that either change or depend on an up-to-date production schedule, it’s crucial to continually optimize. One of the best ways to do this is to incorporate agile planning into your scheduling process. 

To do this, consider the following:

• Dynamic Scheduling: Prepare for changes in distribution, resource allocation, labor usage, worker capacity, and more by developing an adaptable schedule.
• Work-in-Progress Control: Determine a priority schedule and label projects by importance to keep urgent and significant projects on track.
• Prioritized On-Time Deliveries: Determine priority based on need and resources, rather than on the due date.
• Inventory and Supply Management: Coordinate resource arrivals and availability to ensure projects can continue on schedule with minimal product loss or confusion.
• Maintained Equipment and Facility: Working equipment and machinery allow workers to produce products on time, while also keeping laborers safe and protected.
• Production Scheduling Software: You can also use project scheduling software to efficiently and effectively manage orders, track inventory, organize laborers, and more.

What Is Production Scheduling Software?

Production scheduling software allows you to determine, build, and manage your production schedule from one platform. This type of software — also known as Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) software — allows you to create dynamic, up-to-date schedules across diverse teams. 

Many companies use simplified tools for scaled-down operations schedules. However, there are some downsides, as tools like Excel and Google Sheets can:

• Create bulky files
• Lack integration and functionality options 
• Increase human error possibilities

For companies with larger-scale scheduling or enterprise resource planning needs, production scheduling software can be an incredibly powerful tool with a variety of benefits and capabilities.

If you’re considering a software program, evaluate your options by examining the following:

• Integration possibilities with current enterprise resource planning (ERP) and manufacturing resource planning (MRP) software
• Central database capabilities
• Possible data formations
• User and worker access
• Available tools , including calendars, charts, and item tracking

Benefits of Production Scheduling Software

Production scheduling software can be expensive, and new programs can take time and resources to implement. However, the following seven benefits often outweigh the costs and setup times:

• Increased utilization of resources, workstations, and laborers
• Reduced inventory waste
• Prioritized on-time deliveries
• Synchronized manufacturing processes
• Visibility of projects across all teams
• Improved project management capabilities
• Better customer service and satisfaction

Optimize Production Scheduling With Real-Time Work Management in Smartsheet

Empower your people to go above and beyond with a flexible platform designed to match the needs of your team — and adapt as those needs change. 

The Smartsheet platform makes it easy to plan, capture, manage, and report on work from anywhere, helping your team be more effective and get more done. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed. 

When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time.  Try Smartsheet for free, today.

Discover why over 90% of Fortune 100 companies trust Smartsheet to get work done.

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How to Create a Production Schedule (with Example & Tips)

• Oliver Munro
• 7 months ago

• November 3, 2023

A production schedule can help you bring down manufacturing costs and maximise efficiency during the production process. Effective production scheduling can mean the difference between a happy customer and a job that was cancelled because it wasn’t completed on time.

Keep reading to learn what a production schedule is, how to create one, and the actionable tips that’ll help you maximise success and improve productivity in your production scheduling process.

In this production schedule guide:

What is a production schedule.

A production schedule is a project plan detailing the scheduled timeline for goods to be manufactured. It may contain key information about the items being produced and the manufacturing process itself, including any raw materials, labour, and equipment – along with the scheduled dates for executing each stage of the production process.

Simply put, a production schedule acts as a calendar that shows each step required to produce a finished good.

Production schedules help manufacturers avoid stockouts and bring costs down while increasing manufacturing efficiency. For the customer, production schedules aim to shorten lead times and improve the quality of goods produced. This means better products, faster order fulfilment, and happier customers.

The role of a production scheduler

A production scheduler is the person who is responsible for creating your production schedule. They might be the production manager involved in all tasks related to production, or a dedicated person employed solely for this task.

The role of a production scheduler includes:

• Analysing your manufacturing capacities
• Identifying deadlines and detailing how you’ll meet them
• Consulting the production plan and preparing contingencies within the schedule to mitigate any challenges
• Liaising with relevant stakeholders to ensure the right expertise has been taken into account
• Creating processes that will improve manufacturing efficiency and reduce costs
• Producing the production schedule document

It is also the responsibility of the production scheduler to make any necessary adjustments to the schedule once production has begun. This is an important task, as unforeseen disruptions may force a complete rescheduling of certain processes.

Production scheduling vs production planning

Production scheduling is the process of determining when products will be manufactured and setting a timeline for production. Its goal is to ensure goods are manufactured with maximum efficiency, on time and within budget.

Production planning precedes production scheduling. It is the process of determining future demand for products, how those products will be manufactured to meet that demand, and the manufacturing metrics that will measure success. Production planning also involves mapping out the required materials, labour, and equipment for a future production job.

Here’s the difference between a production plan and a production schedule:

• A production plan is a document containing a top-down view of manufacturing processes, requirements, and forecasted demand for a product.
• A production schedule is a document that tells manufacturers which goods need to be produced, when they need to be produced, and the production methods.

You can think of a production plan as the ingredients list for a product. The production schedule acts as the recipe for building that product.

Why is a manufacturing production schedule important?

A production schedule helps significantly in reducing manufacturing costs and improving the efficiency of your manufacturing inventory management .

But that’s not all.

A production schedule also helps to:

• Prevent stockouts – Forecasting demand and planning contingencies for disruptions to production means you’re better able to maintain production throughout the year.
• Improve efficiency – A production schedule can improve productivity by putting steps in place to mitigate any risks or bottlenecks identified during the production planning process.
• Identify opportunities – Addressing inefficiencies also provides the data you need to find opportunities for optimisation.
• Increase visibility – A production schedule creates a paper trail for your manufacturing activities. This facilitates better communication and ensures clarity around project requirements and timelines.
• Manage production costs – By increasing manufacturing process efficiencies, a production schedule simultaneously helps to minimise the cost of inventory and production.

To summarise, a manufacturing schedule is important because it ensures your business is operating at maximum efficiency while keeping costs as low as possible. The reduced production costs directly translate into wider profit margins for your products.

Production schedule example

Production schedules can be highly complex documents produced by manufacturing software that go into detail about each stage of production, or they can be simple spreadsheets that just list out the start times and deadlines for each process.

The production schedule example below demonstrates how the latter might look:

As you can see, specific cells from each row have been blocked out. These cells reflect the period during which each stage of production is expected to take place.

Creating a production schedule

We can break down the process of creating a production schedule into five elements:

• Production planning
• Production scheduling
• Dispatch and execution
• Maintenance

Here’s what to expect from each stage.

1. Production planning

Production planning is the process of developing a strategy for achieving your manufacturing goals. It can also include determining what those goals should be.

The purpose of production planning is to create a document – the production plan – that describes which goods are to be manufactured, how you’ll manufacture them, and any resources such as raw materials or labour required to produce those goods.

The information captured during the production planning stage may be communicated via the production schedule or in a separate document.

Routing refers to the path taken by raw materials and components as they pass through the production line and are eventually used to create a finished good.

When it comes to creating a production schedule, routing optimisation is how you make your production process efficient. It involves mapping out each step required to build a product, identifying the optimal sequence of operations, and looking for ways to improve efficiency within each step.

3. Production scheduling

Production scheduling is when you use the information you’ve gathered in the earlier steps to create a calendar-format document – your production schedule.

The production scheduling process focuses on creating 1–3 types of schedules:

• Master production schedule: A planned timeline of the entire production process.
• Manufacturing production schedule: A planned timeline for the conversion of raw materials into a finished product.
• Retail operations schedule: A planned timeline for transporting finished goods to your store.

When each schedule is ready, it should be shared with the relevant stakeholders so they may review it and offer any feedback.

Once approved by the necessary parties, the production schedule should be communicated to all employees who will be involved in the manufacturing process.

4. Dispatch

Dispatching is the process of assigning people to tasks.  Now that you know what work needs to be done and when it needs to be done, communicate with your team to determine how they will manage their roles. This can include breaking down any manufacturing methods, parts-picking strategies, and processes for moving goods along each stage of the production line.

5. Maintenance

Once you’re confident in your approach, it’s time to execute the tasks in your production schedule.

Because things can often go awry in manufacturing, you’ll need to keep an eye on the progress of your production activities.  There’s a good chance that your production schedule will need some adjusting:  Customer demand could change, supply chain disruptions could slow down production, or equipment failure may prevent goods from being produced on time.

Update the production schedule to account for unexpected interruptions as necessary. Make sure your staff are informed of any changes made to the original schedule.

Production scheduling best practices

Are you ready to dive into the production scheduling process for your next project? Here are some actionable tips and production scheduling best practices to help you along.

1. Stay flexible

Plans often change, so a production schedule needs to be dynamic. When you create your production schedule, allow flexibility for changes to dates, tasks, and resources. Make a plan around how you’ll communicate any changes to the original production schedule to your staff.

2. Implement production scheduling software

Spreadsheets are helpful, but they can be limiting. If production scheduling is a regular activity in your business, you may benefit from investing in specialised production management software . Cloud-based tools can automate repetitive production scheduling tasks, allowing you to complete more tasks in less time.

• Learn more about Access’ advanced production planning and scheduling software, Orchestrate

3. Prioritise based on need

You might be tempted to prioritise tasks based on their deadline or how demanding a certain customer is. However, this strategy can be risky. Consider the master production schedule and each task’s requirements and focus on those with the highest need or highest risk first.

4. Optimise your inventory management

Improve your inventory management processes to boost inventory accuracy and prevent stockouts that could affect production times. When your goods are tracked and managed efficiently, you’ll be in a better position to forecast inventory requirements and adjust your purchasing processes accordingly.

5. Don’t forget equipment maintenance

The last thing you need is for something to unexpectedly break while you’re in full swing. Equipment maintenance can slow down processes, feeling like a chore you want to avoid rather than encourage. But preventative maintenance can mean the difference between a small amount of regularly scheduled downtime and a lot of downtime spent fixing or replacing broken equipment.

Production scheduling software

Production scheduling software refers to digital tools designed to streamline the process of creating, updating, and distributing a production schedule.

Many production planning and production scheduling software come as a complete package. This is good news for small businesses, as it means you’ll have fewer licences to purchase. For businesses with large or complex production processes , production scheduling can also be found as a module inside ERP and MRP software.

In addition to these options, there are other software tools that are useful for specific stages in the production scheduling process.

These include:

• Demand forecasting software – to help you accurately predict future demand for specific products so you can plan and schedule production activities accordingly.
• Inventory management software – to help you optimise your inventory levels so that there is always sufficient stock available to meet your production needs.
• Procurement and purchasing software – to facilitate better supplier sourcing and communications, shorten raw materials lead times, and reduce the risk of supply chain disruptions.

Article by Oliver Munro in collaboration with our team of specialists. Oliver's background is in inventory management and content marketing. He's visited over 50 countries, lived aboard a circus ship, and once completed a Sudoku in under 3 minutes (allegedly).

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What Is a Master Production Schedule (MPS)? With Examples

The master production schedule (MPS) is a production planning tool that helps to figure out how much of a product needs to be manufactured at different periods. This simple schedule can be used as a basis for further planning and scheduling throughout the manufacturing business.

You can also listen to this article:

Table of Contents

What is a Master Production Schedule (MPS)?

The Master Production Schedule (MPS) is a production planning tool that outlines which products need to be manufactured, in which quantity, and when. A master production schedule does not go into detail regarding the production operations, sequencing, employees assigned to tasks, etc. Rather, it is like a contract between the sales department and the manufacturing department that balances supply and demand by defining the necessary quantities to produce within specific timeframes.

The master production schedule is a vital tool in make-to-stock manufacturing environments where a demand forecast drives production planning. As an MPS is often used as the main driver of production activity, it needs to be accurate and viable for it to have a positive effect on the profitability of a business.

The MPS can also be used in certain make-to-order environments and mixed-mode manufacturing operations where a business manufactures standard products. In this case, the sales forecast and master production schedule are mostly used to plan the inventory needed for production.

A standard master production schedule is a long-term plan made for each product separately. It is created with a planning horizon of a few months to several years, with a minimum time bucket (smallest timeframe specified) of 1 week.

Simplify your production planning and scheduling with MRPeasy

Benefits of a Master Production Schedule

There are multiple benefits to introducing an MPS to a manufacturing business:

• It provides a solid base for building, improving, and tracking the sales forecast.
• It helps determine and achieve the desired inventory levels, thereby avoiding shortages and overstocking.
• It is an input for calculating the quantities of parts, subcomponents, or raw materials to purchase or produce, as part of the next stage of Material Requirements Planning .
• It enables the calculation of the required amount of labor and shifts many months in advance.
• It allows for optimizing the installed capacity and balancing the load of the plant in advance, enabling companies to avoid bottlenecks.
• The manufacturing department can use the MPS to estimate production and maintenance costs associated with the work centers.
• The financial department of the company can derive expected revenues and expenses from the MPS and generate a cash flow forecast. Among other benefits, this will help build investment plans.
• The HR department can take advantage of the MPS to anticipate the requirements of hiring labor.
• Accurate MPS planning and execution can significantly improve customer service and satisfaction by ensuring the fulfillment of orders and maintaining the necessary service levels.
• The MPS defines visible, clear, and measurable objectives for the business operations, and a plan to achieve them.

The MPS should reflect the business plan as closely as possible. This requires constant updating by all departments of the company.

For example, if the marketing department plans a sales promotion, the increase in demand must be reflected in the MPS and the forecast. If the sales team discourages the sale of a product line in favor of another one, the MPS and the forecast need to be adjusted.

Where should MPS be used?

Although master production schedules are most often associated with make-to-stock manufacturing workflows, they can also support production planning in make-to-order, assemble-to-order, batch production, and mass customization environments. Here is a glimpse into where MPS can be most effectively applied:

1. Make-to-stock (MTS) . In MTS environments, where products are manufactured for stock based on demand forecasts, MPS is used to align production plans with expected demand. By predicting the quantity of products needed, manufacturers can prevent overproduction or stockouts, optimizing inventory levels and reducing waste.

2. Make-to-order (MTO) . Even in MTO situations, where products are manufactured once a customer order is received, MPS can be useful. It allows manufacturers to plan their capacity and resources efficiently, ensuring they can fulfill orders within promised lead times.

3. Assemble-to-order (ATO) . ATO manufacturers, who assemble products based on customer orders using pre-manufactured components, also benefit from MPS. The schedule helps plan for assembly operations, ensuring components are available when needed and final products are assembled in a timely manner.

4. Batch production . In environments where similar products are produced in groups or batches, MPS assists in determining the optimal batch size and sequencing the batches to maximize efficiency and minimize setup or changeover times.

5. Mass customization . Mass customization is a blend of MTS and MTO, where basic products are manufactured en masse and later customized according to customer needs. By coordinating the production of generic components with master production schedules and then customizing them according to specific orders, manufacturers can meet demand in a more efficient manner.

Inputs of a Master Production Schedule (MPS)

The basic inputs you need to create a viable master production schedule are the following:

1. Starting inventory. How many units of the SKU are already available in stock?

2. Sales forecast / demand plan. How many orders are expected for the period?

3. Current order portfolio. How many orders are already planned for the time period?

4. Quantity to produce. How many units need to be produced during the period to keep supply and demand in balance?

Download a free master production schedule template .

Assume you produce wooden furniture such as chairs, dining tables, and coffee tables.

At the start of the period, you have 40 chairs in stock. Your sales forecast says that you will sell 200 of them. That means you will need to produce 160 chairs during that period in order to match the demand.

As a consequence, the beginning inventory of your next period will be 0. As business is steady, another 200 chair sales are forecasted. This means that now you will need to produce 200 chairs within a period in order to match demand.

Master Production Schedule and safety stock

Unless you have absolutely perfected the just-in-time manufacturing model, you would always want to keep a certain amount of units for backup in case there is an unforeseeable spike in demand. That is why we can complement the master production schedule with:

5. Safety stock. How many units do you want to keep in inventory in case there are spikes in demand?

In the master production schedule, safety stock will be expressed as part of the period’s ending inventory that will be transferred to the next time period as beginning inventory.

Example cont.

Now, continuing with the previous example imagine that you always want to keep 40 chairs as safety stock. Therefore, 160 chairs will not be enough to meet demand and replenish your safety stock during the first period. This means that you will need to produce 200 chairs altogether to satisfy your customers and maintain the required buffer.

Learn more about Safety Stock and How to Calculate It .

Master Production Schedule and Rough-Cut Capacity Planning

When planning production, you always need to keep in mind how much exactly you are able to produce in a given period. If you take in orders that require you to produce a thousand chairs in a month, but you only have the means to produce 500, you will let down your customers and your company. That is why you would always want to account for:

6. Production capacity . How many products would you be able to produce during the period, given that everything is running smoothly?

Rough-cut capacity planning is an important tool to use alongside the master production schedule. To calculate your production capacity, you will need to know your products’ throughput time and the total productive hours of your shop floor.

Once you have created your initial master production schedule, you can test its viability by creating a rough-cut capacity plan according to the MPS. If the capacity plan shows that your production capacity cannot accommodate the production levels in any period set in the MPS, you will need to find ways to increase capacity or modify the MPS.

Master production scheduling and rough-cut capacity planning is a back-and-forth process. That means any change in either of them requires reviewing the other.

Learn more about production capacity and rough-cut capacity planning .

Additional considerations regarding MPS

Master production schedule freezing.

Freezing the MPS means locking the first couple of periods a certain amount of time, e.g. a week or two, before production starts according to the schedule. This is done to prevent last-minute changes that may slow down production and, ultimately, ruin your plans.

Available to Promise

Available to promise is the number of units that you can additionally promise to deliver to customers (as firm orders) in the period at hand. It is calculated according to the master production schedule. It takes into account all the firm orders and the planned quantities across the MPS horizon. ATP plays an important role in supply chain management .

Batch criteria

When drawing up a master production schedule, you should always consider your batch sizes, i.e. how many products do you make in one run. That will determine the step of your quantities. For example, if you manufacture in batches of 25 products then your quantity to produce cannot be 240, it needs to be 250 or 225.

Maximum inventory

The MPS is a great tool for planning and preparing early for surges in demand. However, there are physical and practical limitations to the quantities you can store in stock. Even if you had the production capacity, it may not be possible to utilize it if your stock is full. Or beyond a certain inventory level, too much cash may be tied up in inventory.

6 tips for managing a Master Production Schedule

Mastering the Master Production Schedule is vital for efficient production planning and optimized manufacturing processes. Here are six key tips to help manage an MPS effectively:

1. Balance demand and supply. An effective MPS balances customer demand with production capacity. While it’s crucial to meet customer orders on time, overloading your production line can lead to increased costs and inefficiencies. On the other hand, underutilizing capacity can lead to lost sales and reduced profitability. Find the right balance based on your business strategy and market conditions.

2. Align MPS with business goals. Your MPS should align with your overall business objectives. If your goal is to reduce inventory holding costs, for instance, your MPS should be designed to produce just in time to meet demand. If your goal is high service levels, your MPS might need to include safety stock or be geared towards fast response times.

3. Regularly review and update. In the ever-changing landscape of supply and demand, a static MPS can quickly become obsolete. Regularly review and adjust your MPS based on real-time sales data, customer orders, inventory levels, and supply chain conditions to ensure its accuracy and effectiveness. A rule of thumb is that an MPS should be reviewed weekly.

4. Collaborate across departments. An MPS impacts multiple departments in a company, from production to sales to procurement. Ensure that all relevant parties are involved in its creation and review. This collaborative approach can improve forecast accuracy, resource allocation, and overall effectiveness of the MPS.

5. Use appropriate technology. Utilize a manufacturing ERP system that can automate much of the MPS and manufacturing planning process. These systems can provide real-time data, helping to streamline the process, reduce errors, and improve responsiveness to changes in demand or supply.

6. Track metrics and improve continuously. There are many KPIs you can keep an eye on in order to assess the accuracy and usefulness of an MPS. These include schedule adherence and attainment, inventory levels, capacity utilization rate, OTIF, etc. Measuring your MPS performance and comparing against historical data allows you to understand when some aspect of the planning process needs to be improved. Remember, an MPS is not a set-it-and-forget-it tool. It requires continuous management and adjustment to reflect current realities and drive optimal production performance.

Master Production Scheduling vs. Manufacturing Resource Planning

The master production schedule is one of the jumping-off points for material requirements planning (MRP I) and manufacturing resource planning (MRP II) . In addition to the MPS, however, MRP uses inputs such as inventory statuses, BOMs, routings, material requirements and costs, financial records, staffing and machine capacity, etc. to create a highly detailed plan for all of the different resources related to production and provide you with a real-time overview of your business, enhancing overall operations management rather than just production planning.

Unlike creating a master production schedule, the complexity of manufacturing resource planning makes it impossible to do manually. Today, there are many different software providers offering MRP systems, but many of them have grown out of accounting or inventory management software and are limited in their manufacturing resource planning capabilities. Using proper MRP software , however, is becoming more and more important when it comes to staying competitive in the manufacturing business.

MRPeasy is one of the few cloud-based solutions that bring together both production planning and production scheduling software functionality, meaning that the system supports both MPS-based long-term planning as well as short-term scheduling.

Read more about MRPeasy’s master production schedule (MPS) software functionality .

Master scheduling process within an MRP system

Although you can use Excel to create a simple master production schedule, modern manufacturing MRP/ERP systems (or at least the ones with an MPS functionality) make using the master production schedule as a basis for more advanced planning and scheduling exceedingly simple. Here’s how an MRP system uses the MPS:

1. Automated data input . MRP software automatically fills several inputs based on the data it has: firm sales orders, already scheduled manufacturing orders, purchase orders, and starting inventory. When any of these values changes, the MPS is automatically updated, giving the sales, production, and procurement teams real-time information and enabling them to take the necessary action, e.g. by changing the MPS, increasing capacity, or ordering extra materials.

2. Demand planning . The sales team uses historical data and trends to forecast demand for the coming periods. After putting in the firm sales orders and forecasted demand, the system compares it to current inventory levels to determine the quantities required to produce during the period. This is the basic master production schedule.

It is important to note that the demand forecast is only valid until firm order quantities do not exceed the forecasted demand.

3. Capacity planning . After the basic MPS has been created, the production planner steps in. The MRP system uses the MPS to perform Rough Cut Capacity Planning (RCCP). This involves checking whether there is sufficient capacity available (in terms of machinery and labor) to meet the production schedule outlined in the MPS. If the available capacity does not meet the capacity requirements, the production planner needs to adjust the MPS or increase production capacity, e.g. by adding a shift.

4. Procurement planning. Once the MPS is established, the system uses it as an input for calculating the material requirements for each period. MRP software takes the master production schedule and the bill of materials (BOM) for each product, as well as the current raw material inventory, and calculates the quantities of each material or component required and when they are needed. The procurement team can then use this plan to ensure that the necessary materials are procured in time for production and inventory levels are optimized.

5. Production scheduling. An MRP system can be used to convert customer orders into manufacturing orders and automatically schedule them according to available resources or the order’s due date. Alternatively, production planners can manually create manufacturing orders (which are then scheduled automatically) to align production with the MPS.

6. Real-time adjustments. As mentioned above, MRP/ERP systems can be used to adjust the MPS and subsequent plans in real time as conditions change, such as a surge in demand or a delay in receiving raw materials. This agility allows manufacturers to respond quickly to changes in the business environment, reducing risks and potential losses, and keeping each party informed and involved in the process. It also facilitates what-if scenario analysis, enabling manufacturers to be better prepared for a variety of possible situations.

By integrating the MPS into an MRP system, manufacturers can automate and optimize their production planning process, improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing their ability to meet customer demand.

Key takeaways

• Master production schedule (MPS) is a production planning tool that aligns production with demand, detailing products, quantities, and timelines with a planning horizon of several months to years.
• The benefits of master scheduling include inventory optimization, forecast accuracy benchmarking, accurate capacity, labor, and financial planning, and potential increased customer satisfaction.
• Although MPS is mostly associated with make-to-stock environments, it can be used in make-to-order as well as mixed-mode manufacturing.
• Key inputs of MPS include current inventory, demand forecast, firm sales orders, and production quantities. In addition, companies can account for safety stock and production capacity.
• Proper management of master production schedules entails balancing demand and supply, aligning the plans with business goals, regularly updating the MPS, collaborating across departments, using MPS-enabled ERP software, and tracking key metrics.

Frequently asked questions

The Master Production Schedule (MPS) outlines what products need to be produced, in what quantities, and when, serving as a bridge between sales forecasts and manufacturing. Production scheduling, on the other hand, is a more detailed process that determines the specific sequence of work for each product or job on the production floor, including start and finish times for each task, resource allocation, and the assignment of specific tasks to workers or machines. While the MPS provides a high-level plan, production scheduling deals with the day-to-day operations and logistics necessary to execute the plan.

Manufacturers can adjust the MPS by conducting regular review sessions to compare actual production outcomes with planned schedules, identify variances, and determine their causes. Based on this analysis, they can update the MPS to reflect realistic production capabilities, changing demand patterns, or supply chain disruptions, ensuring it remains a dynamic and responsive tool.

MPS can be integrated with lean manufacturing principles by using it to streamline production processes, minimize waste, and ensure just-in-time delivery of products. This involves aligning MPS closely with demand forecasts, reducing excess inventory, and facilitating continuous improvement in production planning and execution.

Advanced techniques for optimizing an MPS include leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to enhance forecast accuracy, automate dynamic scheduling, and facilitate real-time adjustments. These technologies can help manufacturers anticipate market changes, improve resource allocation, and reduce production inefficiencies, leading to more effective and flexible production planning.

You may also like: What Is the Difference Between Production Planning and Scheduling?

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Madis Kuuse

Madis is an experienced content writer and translator with a deep interest in manufacturing and inventory management. Combining scientific literature with his easily digestible writing style, he shares his industry-findings by creating educational articles for manufacturing novices and experts alike. Collaborating with manufacturers to write process improvement case studies, Madis keeps himself up to date with all the latest developments and challenges that the industry faces in their everyday operations.

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• Project management

What is production scheduling, and why is it important?

Georgina Guthrie

May 21, 2024

We’re so used to going to the store and seeing the stuff we need in abundance because, over time, manufacturers have gotten very good at getting the right materials in, manufacturing on time, anticipating demand, and shipping it off to the store. When you do see empty shelves, it’s usually because someone has struggled with procuring materials or work orders — or there’s been a natural disaster or pandemic. It’s nearly impossible to predict certain events, but for everything else, there’s production scheduling. It’s   a handy process that helps your business meet customer demand more efficiently.

What is production scheduling?

A production schedule lists every single product that’ll be manufactured, including where and when they’ll be made. Creating a production schedule includes every detail, from raw materials to logistics. It also incorporates various processes designed to make production run smoothly while helping managers spot potential issues — like bottlenecks — and stop them before they explode into something bigger. For this reason, it’s a flexible, changeable document that you’ll need to update and check regularly.

The production schedule helps managers plan ahead and also serves as a line of communication between the production and sales teams. Sales inform the manufacturing team about the levels of demand, and manufacturers tell sales when the product is ready.

What is a production schedule used for?

The production schedule is a versatile and important document for planning, forecasting, predicting, and meeting demand. It helps keep your operations working on time and under budget, which helps you keep your commitment to your customers. Its main functions include:

• Planning : Predicting demand and matching that to labor, materials, and equipment capacity
• Scheduling : Assigning workers and detailing contingency plans for when unexpected delays happen
• Stockout prevention : Planning to maintain output, even if materials are delayed or a swell in orders increases demand
• Improved efficiency : Spotting bottlenecks and looking for areas of improvement — resulting in improved lead times and smoother demand flows
• Improved communication : With one master document detailing every element of the production workflow, communication is standardized across the entire business
• Utilizing production scheduling software : Automating scheduling tasks, optimizing resource allocation, and providing real-time visibility into production activities

How to create a production scheduling process

Your production schedule is a big, evolving thing, and without a formal process in place, it could become unruly. Various production scheduling techniques, such as Infinite and Finite Capacity Planning, can be employed to enhance the process.

Here are five key steps to follow.

1. Planning

Begin with your demand plan. How much raw material will you need, and when? You can do two types of planning here: static and dynamic. Static planning assumes nothing will change, whereas dynamic planning assumes everything could change. Both involve collecting information about resources, timelines, and team availability.

A master production schedule can help link demand determined by sales to the company’s production capacity, ensuring timely delivery of products.

Identify where your raw materials will come from and how they’ll be delivered to your production or manufacturing team, with a focus on the most cost-effective route.

3. Scheduling

Develop a schedule that sets out how you’ll meet requirements — including contingency plans .

• Create a master schedule that encompasses the entire process, from start to finish.
• Set up a manufacturing schedule that covers raw material routing.
• Plan a retail schedule that covers how products move from manufacturing to the shelf or eCommerce store.
• Implement lean manufacturing principles to optimize production scheduling, maximize efficiency, and minimize costs.

4. Communicating

Share the production schedule with everyone involved and make sure it’s understood.

5. Dispatching

Plot the process of items and people moving around — including when and where throughout the entire process. Effective dispatching ensures that the production line operates smoothly, with tasks and resources allocated efficiently.

6. Execution

This is the process of putting your plan into action.

7. Maintenance

Keep your schedule updated regularly as demand changes .

What to include in your production schedule

Your production schedule will include these elements:

• A product inventory that lists all of the products you make
• A variation sublist (size, color, type)
• Demand and delivery dates
• Production quantities (the number of units you’ll produce each week)

The benefits of using a production schedule

Your production scheduling will help with demand planning, supply, and your customers’ changing needs. It should also help you better anticipate the ebb and flow of work and give you a framework to use when things don’t go quite as planned.

Here’s a summary of what your production schedule does:

• Gives you an inventory of your entire stock, so you always know what you have and where you need to replenish items
• Helps HR know in advance how many staff you’ll need at any given time
• Allows you to navigate risks and prevent issues from bringing production to a standstill.
• Avoids stockouts because you know how much raw material you have, how long production will take, and how much you’ll need.
• Optimizes the manufacturing process by coordinating tasks and resources effectively.

How to optimize your production schedule

Your production schedule will be a large document that you will regularly update. Not only that, but multiple people will need to be told about that change as soon as it happens. Advanced techniques and tools, such as finite capacity scheduling and Gantt charts, can be used to optimize production schedules.

Here are some tips on how best to manage that:

Create a dynamic schedule

Flexibility is the name of the game, so make sure you create your schedule using something that’s easy to edit in real time. Project management software is the gold standard here, and wiki features are also helpful.

Prioritize tasks according to delivery dates:

Your schedule might prioritize an order that’s due in two days’ time, but if you know there’s an order due in 10 days and it won’t make its deadline if you don’t see to it now, then focus on that first. Having a dynamic schedule makes it easier to reprioritize those orders.

Use project management tools

With a project management tool, you can create your schedule using a Gantt chart . This is essentially a virtual diagram that helps you schedule tasks and resources across a timeline. As the project evolves, individuals can enter their data, and the chart automatically updates in real-time — meaning everyone’s on the same page at once. If there are delays in raw materials or staff are off, the team can edit it, and the new data is turned into an updated schedule with recalculated times, costs, and other metrics. No more manual adjustments, no more update emails — just the entire team working like a well-oiled machine.

Best practices for production scheduling

• Use real-time data : Ensure your production schedule is based on the most current information to improve accuracy.
• Maintain flexibility : Be prepared to adjust your schedule as needed to accommodate changes and unexpected events.
• Foster communication : Encourage regular communication between all departments involved in production to ensure everyone is aligned and informed.

Production planning vs. production scheduling

In manufacturing, both production planning and production scheduling are essential processes that ensure the efficient and timely production of goods. Although they are closely related and often overlap, they serve distinct purposes and involve different activities. Understanding the differences between these two processes is crucial for optimizing production operations.

Production planning

Production planning is the strategic process of organizing and optimizing all the elements required for manufacturing goods or services. It involves long-term decision-making and focuses on preparing for future production needs.

Key activities in production planning:

• Demand Forecasting : Estimating future customer demand to align production capacity with market needs.
• Resource Allocation : Determining the necessary raw materials, labor, and equipment required for production.
• Capacity Planning : Ensuring that production capacity can meet anticipated demand without causing delays or bottlenecks.
• Inventory Management : Managing inventory levels to ensure materials are available when needed while minimizing overstocking.
• Quality Control : Implementing measures to maintain high-quality standards throughout the production process.

Production scheduling

Production scheduling is the tactical process of assigning specific tasks and resources to time slots within the production process. It focuses on the short-term execution of production plans and ensures that daily operations run smoothly.

Key activities in production scheduling include:

• Allocating resources efficiently
• Sequencing tasks to optimize workflow
• Monitoring progress and making adjustments as needed
• Utilizing production scheduling software: Automating scheduling tasks and providing real-time visibility into production activities

Key activities in production scheduling:

• Task Assignment : Allocating specific tasks to workers and machinery.
• Timeline Creation : Developing detailed schedules that outline when and where production activities will occur.
• Contingency Planning : Preparing for unexpected delays and disruptions by creating backup plans.
• Coordination : Ensuring that all production activities are synchronized to avoid bottlenecks and downtime.
• Monitoring Progress : Tracking the progress of production tasks and making real-time adjustments as needed.

Key differences between production planning and production scheduling

• Focus : Production planning is strategic and long-term, focusing on preparing for future production needs. Production scheduling is tactical and short-term, focusing on the day-to-day execution of production tasks.
• Scope : Production planning encompasses the entire production process, including forecasting, resource allocation, and capacity planning. Production scheduling deals with the specific assignment of tasks and resources to time slots.
• Flexibility : Production planning requires flexibility to adapt to changes in demand and market conditions. Production scheduling requires flexibility to handle unexpected delays and disruptions.
• Output : The main output of production planning is a comprehensive plan that outlines how production will be managed over the long term. The main output of production scheduling is a detailed schedule that specifies the timing and sequence of production tasks.

Integrating production planning and production scheduling

To optimize manufacturing operations, it is essential to integrate production planning and production scheduling seamlessly. Here’s how:

• Develop a comprehensive production plan : Start with a strategic plan that includes demand forecasting, resource allocation , and capacity planning .
• Create detailed schedules : Break down the production plan into specific tasks and assign them to time slots.
• Utilize a free production schedule template : Use a free production schedule template to create efficient production plans and track inventory levels.
• Use project management tools : Leverage software tools like Gantt charts to manage and synchronize production planning and scheduling.
• Maintain flexibility : Ensure that both plans and schedules can be adjusted in real time to handle changes and disruptions.
• Foster communication : Keep all stakeholders informed and engaged to ensure the smooth execution of production activities.

By understanding and effectively managing production planning and scheduling, businesses can achieve greater efficiency, reduce costs, and more reliably meet customer demands.

What is a production timeline?

A production timeline is a crucial tool in both production planning and scheduling. It provides a visual representation of the entire production process from start to finish. It outlines the sequence of activities, key milestones, and deadlines, ensuring that all tasks are completed in a timely and organized manner.

This chronological chart maps out all the steps involved in the production process. It includes key events, deadlines, and milestones, giving a clear overview of how the production will unfold over time. Production timelines are often created using Gantt charts, which visually depict the start and end dates of each task, along with their dependencies.

Key components of a production timeline

• Tasks : Individual activities that need to be completed during the production process.
• Milestones : Significant events or checkpoints that mark the completion of critical phases.
• Deadlines : Specific dates by which tasks or milestones must be completed.
• Dependencies : Relationships between tasks that dictate the order in which they must be completed.
• Resources : Allocation of labor, materials, and equipment required for each task.

How to create an effective production timeline

• Identify all tasks : List all the activities required to complete the production process.
• Determine dependencies : Identify relationships between tasks and the order in which they must be completed.
• Set milestones and deadlines : Establish key events and deadlines to track progress and ensure timely completion.
• Allocate resources : Assign labor, materials, and equipment to each task.
• Use project management tools : Utilize software tools like Gantt charts to create a visual representation of the timeline.
• Monitor and update regularly : Keep the timeline updated with real-time data to reflect changes and ensure the production stays on track.

Final thoughts

Production scheduling is a complex yet essential process that involves coordinating various tasks and resources to meet customer demand efficiently. By implementing a dynamic production schedule and using modern tools like project management software, businesses can improve their production processes, enhance communication, and ensure the timely delivery of products.

If you’re looking for a tool that offers more than a typical APS, that automatically updates schedules, sends out notifications, and operates in real time, then Backlog — our own project management software — may just be what you’re looking for. Give it a try today.

This post was originally published on September 17, 2021, and updated most recently on May 21, 2024.

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• HR & Payroll

Master Production Schedule - A Complete Guide

According to recent research from Deloitte, nearly 75% of organizations are using master production scheduling (MPS) to optimize their manufacturing operations. Further supporting this study is a recent study from IFS that found that companies using MPS are able to reduce their inventory costs by up to 50%.

Additionally, a recent survey by Gartner showed that 78% of companies had seen a reduction in lead times when implementing master production schedules.

In fact, a recent survey by McKinsey revealed that 87% of companies that implemented MPS saw an increase in customer satisfaction. According to the same survey, MPS implementations have resulted in an average of 10% cost savings.

All of these statistics highlight the benefits of implementing a master production schedule in your manufacturing operations. As is evident from its name, a master production schedule (MPS) is a production plan that states which products will be manufactured, as well as their amounts and start dates.

Thus, through the implementation of master production schedules, you will be able to ensure that you are able to cater to the demands of all your customers, you are able to maximize your productivity and profitability, and you are able to ensure the success of your business.

However, considering the complexities of manufacturing and, therefore, evident complexities that would be involved in making your company’s master production schedule, it is vital that you have a comprehensive understanding of it.

This article will help you thereby covering the following topics:

• What is a Master Production Schedule?

Objectives of Master Production Schedule

5 main functions of a master production schedule, elements of a master production schedule, 7 proven steps for creating an effective master production schedule, 3 tips for creating a master production schedule, how do manufacturers use a master production schedule, benefits of master production schedule, faqs about the master production schedule, how can deskera help you make and manage your master production schedule, key takeaways, related articles.

The master production schedule is a production planning tool that defines how much of a product needs to be manufactured at different periods. This simple schedule can thus be used as a basis for further planning and scheduling throughout the business. It is thus a crucial part of production planning and scheduling .

Usually, a master production schedule does not go into detail, like what materials will be used in production and which employees will be assigned to the tasks.

Rather, it is more of a contact between the sales department and the manufacturing department, thus helping in balancing supply and demand by defining the necessary quantities to be produced and the timeframes of production.

If your business has a make-to-stock manufacturing environment where your demand forecast will drive production planning, then a master production schedule is an especially important tool for you.

Additionally, if your business has a make-to-order environment, along with mixed-mode manufacturing where your business manufactures standard products, then a master production schedule will again be a useful tool for you to implement.

Here, the sales forecast, along with the master production schedule, will help you plan the inventory that will be needed for production. This will thus optimize your inventory management .

What you must keep in mind regarding the master production schedule is that considering it is often used as the main driver of production activity, you need to ensure that it is accurate as well as viable for having a positive effect on the profitability of your business.

Also, a standard master production schedule is a long-term plan that is made separately for each product. It is done with a planning horizon (i.e., the amount of time your organization will look into the future when preparing a strategic plan) of three months to two years, with a minimum time bucket (smallest time frame specified) of one week.

Thus, a master production schedule is the backbone of every productive manufacturing business that will help you:

• Make adjustments to fluctuations in demand
• Prevent stockouts
• Improve your efficiency
• Perform effective cost control

A quick overview of the master production schedule process steps that you will need to follow when putting this together are:

• Map your demand, and then make a demand plan.
• Figure out the raw materials that you will need, and then get your supply chain up and running with production planning processes.
• The prior steps will now get you ready to develop a master production schedule proposal. This is a rough draft that will help you assess whether your production schedule is workable or not.
• Use a rough-cut capacity planning technique to calculate if you can meet your proposed master production schedule manufacturing. You should continuously use this technique to assess if your capacity can meet demand when your master production schedule is in action. This will thus increase the efficiency of your resource capacity planning while helping you save on additional business expenses .
• If the proposal of your master production schedule is workable, then you should evaluate it with regard to the effective use of resources, inventory investment, and customer service.

Once you have implemented a master production schedule, every employee on your shop floor will be clear on what needs to be produced each week. Thus, your master production schedule will help you with shop floor scheduling as well, ensuring its accuracy.

Hence, your master production schedule will make sure that everyone in your business is working towards the same goal. The insights provided through it will help you in knowing when you need to decrease or increase your production.

In fact, your master production schedule will be a crucial input into your aggregate operations plan. This is because it will give you an overview of everything that your business needs to do for 100% order fulfillment.

This will include the production of sales orders and having them delivered on time, without any problems or defects. This will help your business increase its net revenue as well as net profit ratio .

• Save you time by increasing the efficiency of your production flow
• Makes your demand flow smoother
• Ensures standardization of communication across your business, thus also making sure that your production scheduling is synchronized with other departments
• Lowers your lead time
• Helps you to prioritize your requirements, thereby preventing undue pressure on your working capital
• Helps you to keep your production stable
• Generates workable plans for your manufacturing orders after taking into consideration available resources, customer requirements, and company goals
• Assists in making accurate purchases and transfer orders
• Monitor and adjust the production schedule when necessary
• Monitor and adjust inventory levels as needed
• Develop an effective and efficient system for managing production schedules.
• Develop effective and efficient communication systems to ensure that all stakeholders are aware of production schedules.
• Optimize the use of resources to maximize efficiency.
• Track and report on performance against the production plan.

The primary purpose of a master production schedule is to save you time by ensuring that the hours you spend managing your production flow, you are able to do so more efficiently. This thus gives you more space to scale your manufacturing business.

All the other objectives and functions of the master production schedule are aligned toward achieving its aforementioned primary purpose. Thus, the other functions of a master production schedule are:

Translating Production Plans

The master production schedule will help you determine how many items you need to produce within a specific time period.

This means that it will help you manage your operations such that you are able to strike a balance between demand, labor requirements, and equipment capability.

It will do so in a manner that your customers are satisfied, thus ensuring customer loyalty towards your business.

Evaluating Alternative Schedules

Through a master production schedule, you will be considering multiple manufacturing routes. This will help you determine which is the most efficient route for your business.

Additionally, it will also help you account for any problems that may arise along a production line.

Knowing this in advance will help you be prepared for it, thereby ensuring that the quality of your production is maintained and you also have the required safety stock levels.

Consequently, your manufacturing costs , as well as other additional expenses , will be minimized.

Produce Capacity Requirements

When you undertake rough-cut capacity planning with your master production schedule, you will be able to figure out your realistic capacity requirements to meet your demand, increase profits, minimize costs, and encourage returning customers .

Facilitating Information Processing

Your master production schedule will be able to help you set your reorder points of inventory so that you are able to make timely deliveries.

This is made possible because, through the master production schedule, you will be able to coordinate with different management information systems like finance, marketing , sales , and more.

Utilization of Capacity

Lastly, with a master production schedule, you will be able to establish the loads and utilization requirements of your equipment and machines such that it is productive as well as profitable.

To be able to have a master production schedule, you will first need a demand plan. However, for demand planning , you will need to stay updated with accurate historical sales data.

Then using this, along with the upcoming buyer persona trends, seasonal trends, and other such factors, you will be able to generate a projected demand for the upcoming weeks. You need to ensure that you adjust your projected demand on a week-to-week basis.

Additionally, to ensure that you are able to fulfill a large or uncommon order, you must keep safety stock. However, if demand grows, then you must adjust your order policy accordingly so that it does not eat into your safety stock frequently.

Thus, it is essential that as each week passes, you update your demand plan to create a more accurate production calendar. This will then help you make your master production schedule as well as updates in the same.

Once you have fine-tuned your master production schedule, it will become a valuable tool for your business’ order fulfillment.

However, to be able to have such a master production schedule, the elements that are must are:

• Product List - All the product models that you produce should be a part of this list. In fact, once you have completed your ABC analysis , you can arrange these models based on their popularity. This means that the items that you produce the most are at the top of your list.
• Variation Sub-Lists for Each Product - It is crucial that you have a field for each product variation. This means that you will need a field for each SKU . For example, if you split your backpacks into S, M, and L based on their sizes. You can further split them into other variations like color and material.
• Year, Month, and Week - This information will be useful to you for planning and keeping records, as well as for accurate demand forecasting. Thus, you should split up your schedule into months and weeks.

The main reason for this is that it will let you have a solid plan of what you should produce for the next few months. Then, every few months, you should reassess your projected demand, letting you make adjustments to it when required.

• Production Quantities - This is the number of units that you decide to manufacture each week. For instance, you decide to manufacture 200 units of your product in a week based on your demand plan. This means that at the bottom of each weekly column, you are adding the number 200.

However, you also need to allocate how many of each product variation will make up a total of 200. This will depend on what you already have in stock and what is your projected demand.

For example, in one week, all 200 units could be of one SKU, however, in the follow-up production, it could be evenly distributed across product models.

The seven steps that you must follow to make an effective master production schedule are:

Understand and Define Your Products

Your master production schedule depends upon an in-depth knowledge of your products and clear definitions for product categories and product groups. Thus, before making your master production schedule, it is important to form strict categories and definitions for your products.

Additionally, it is also important that you organize your products into their respective categories. Within these categories, you can define similar products together to create product groups.

Thus, to create an accurate master production schedule, you must define your product lines which will represent different categories of products, as well as product families, which will represent similar products within a line.

Set Your Lead Time Targets

It is important that you know how long it is going to take to complete manufacturing a batch of your products. In fact, you must know it as accurately as possible because you will have to pass this information on to your customers.

Only if you adhere to the deadline you give them will you see an improvement in your customer retention , as well as in your operational metrics .

Thus, you must consider how long each component of the manufacturing process will take you to complete. You should then be able to answer the following questions:

• After the order is placed, how long will it take you to get all the relevant materials?
• How long will it take you to turn these materials into a manufactured product?
• How long will it take for your products to be packaged and sealed after undergoing quality checks?
• How long will it take for the packaged products to be made ready for delivery?
• How long will the delivery take before it reaches your final customers?

After considering all these different components, you will know your total lead time, i.e., the time taken from when the order is placed till the customer receives it. To determine your lead times as accurately as possible, you should draw upon your past experiences and your manufacturing data.

• Assess Public Demand and Decide Upon the Required Rate of Production

In this step towards making an effective master production schedule, you need to assess whether your product is already in demand among your customers or not. This is because if your product is already in demand among your customers, then you will have to be capable of a high rate of production to be able to cater to that demand.

An additional benefit of having a high rate of production in such a scenario will ensure that your product does not get sold out and continues to remain available to your customers. This will lead to improved cash flow and a higher ratio of accounts receivable to accounts payable .

On the other hand, if your demand is low, then your rate of production must reflect this. This is essential because if you develop and deliver too many products, your retailers will face difficulties in selling them. Additionally, it will also lead to a waste of your money and resources.

Thus, it is crucial that you assess the public demand for your product and accurately calculate how many items you will be producing over a set time period for making your master production schedule.

• Make Sure that Available Resources Align with the Production Rate

This is your next step in making an effective master production schedule. Once you have calculated the required rate of production for each product category and product group, you must plan for the resources that you will need to fulfill this.

For instance, for some of your product groups, the production rates may be in excess of normal levels in order to ensure that your retailers are well-stocked with the products. In this step, then, you will have to assess how feasible this required production rate is with your current levels of available resources.

This step will help you determine if you need to expand the levels of resources available to your teams. Additionally, it will also help you identify if you need to reallocate resources from lower-demand production chains to higher ones in order to hit your targets.

Lastly, this step will also include assessing what resources you have currently and how you can optimize this ahead of the next round of production. This will help you in improving your business metrics , as well as other relevant key performance indicators .

• Identify Production Shortfalls and Troubleshoot These Problem Areas

In this step of making an effective master production schedule, you will be able to identify those sections of your production line which are unable to meet demand.

While these problems may be due to individual components that are particularly difficult or time-consuming to manufacture, they might also be more widespread, thereby covering the entire production line.

In this step, you will also need to identify how you can overcome these problems and troubleshoot these issues. You will be able to do so only after you have identified the problem areas. Then you will need to calculate how you can free up resources to increase the rate of production, or you can figure out how to streamline and optimize your production method.

• Use Quantitative and Qualitative Data to Craft Your Master Production Schedule

In all the above-mentioned steps, you would have managed to gather a significant amount of information and data. This data will be quantitative, like the numbers relating to production rates, resource availability, and customer demand. However, this data will also be qualitative, like, the product categories and groups, as well as retail partner requests and other information.

When making your master production schedule, you should draw up on all of this data. Using this data, your master production schedule will become the master sheet, followed by your entire production operation. This master sheet will outline the following:

• Which products are to be manufactured?
• Viable lead times for all these products
• Rates of production based on demand
• Available resources
• Resource reallocation plans
• Potential problem areas during manufacturing

It will thus help you ensure that you have satisfied customers and healthy financial statements and financial KPIs .

• Check, Assess and Adapt Your Master Production Schedule During the Production Operation

After step 6, your first draft of the master production schedule will be completed. Post this hence, your manufacturing operations can begin. However, what you must remember is that a master production schedule is not a static document, as it is designed to grow and evolve over time as you fine-tune your processes.

To make this happen, you will need to have a continuous policy of monitoring, assessing, and adapting your master production schedule as required.

For example, you find out that your lead time calculations are not as accurate as you presumed them to be. You thus need to alter these.

Additionally, you might also find that your predictions regarding resource requirements were incorrect and that you need to update that data too.

Once you update this data in your master production schedule, you are ensuring that it becomes a document that is more and more valuable to your team.

To make your master production schedule more accurate, you should follow the following three tips:

Create a Realistic Schedule

When you are making your master production schedule, it is important that you are realistic about the amount of product you want to produce. This will ensure that you do not end up cramming items into your schedule or that you do not overschedule yourself and then run into problems.

Start with Your High-Priority Items

Before starting to make your master production schedule, it is important that you list the most necessary items for your business. These items should be at the top of your list and given priority treatment in your production schedule.

Break Down Each Task into Smaller Steps

To be able to better estimate how much time you will take to complete certain tasks, it is important that you break them down into smaller steps. This insight should then be used by you when making your master production schedule, which will further help you ensure that each job is completed on time.

Irrespective of the size of your business or the industry that you are part of, the sooner you start using a master production schedule, the better it will be for your business. This is because a master production schedule will foster good business habits in you.

Considering that your business habits are a key predictor of your long-term success, this implementation will thus help you increase your net revenue, net profits, and return on investment .

Remember, the master production schedule is compatible with different production workflows:

• Make-to-Stock (MTS) - In this specialized scenario, a minimal quantity of items are assembled to form a more significant number of components. Here hence, your master production schedule would finish valuable items.
• Make-to-Order (MTO) - In this case, minimal raw materials are used to make various finishing goods. For example, the manufacturing process of automobile vehicles. Here, the main aim of your master production schedule will be the periodic arrangement of the actual customer orders.
• Assemble-to-Order (ATO) - Here, raw materials are utilized to effectively produce subassemblies and the essential components. Then, these components and sub-assemblies work in harmony to form various finishing goods. Here, your mast production schedule will help you emphasize the subassembly level.

Note: If you have an ATO workflow, then your master production scheduling will focus on the production of finished goods or components.

What you need to always keep in mind is that the goods that are the most profitable for your business are likely to make up most of the resources needed for production. Thus, as a manufacturer, a master production schedule will help you:

• Understand what needs to be produced
• Determine the size of your production batch
• Determine when the production of a batch should be scheduled
• The manufacturing route that your products should follow

Therefore, when making your master production schedule, you also need to consider the following important variants for which your master production schedule will be helpful:

• What are your batch criteria?
• What are your sequence constraints?
• What are your set-up times?
• What is the capacity over-saturation?

And other such relevant variants related to your manufacturing operations.

The master production schedule will help you plan, manage and modify your production processes. Its implementation will thus lead to the following benefits:

• Improved customer service by ensuring the timely delivery of products to customers.
• Reduced inventory costs due to improved forecasting accuracy.
• Better planning for resource utilization.
• Enhanced production efficiency by providing a clear plan for production.
• Improved communication between departments for better coordination.
• Enhanced profitability due to better inventory management.
• Reduced lead times for production and delivery of products.
• Improved scheduling of materials and resources.
• Increased ability to handle customer orders and inquiries.
• Acts as an effective barrier against the shortage of raw material and any unexpected mishap.
• Enhanced ability to respond quickly to changing customer demands.
• Reduced waste due to better scheduling and planning.
• Improved customer satisfaction by providing timely deliveries.
• Reduced inventory carrying costs.
• Improved ability to identify and address potential inventory problems.
• Enhanced ability to forecast future demand and production requirements.
• Help your account department reach income and expenses by providing account statements like profit and loss statements and balance sheets .

A Master Production Schedule (MPS) is a plan that is used to manage the supply of products in a manufacturing process. It describes the timing and quantity of production for each product and item, as well as the resources required to meet the demand.

• How often should a Master Production Schedule be updated?

A Master Production Schedule should be updated regularly, ideally on a daily basis, to ensure that the production plan reflects the current demand and supply of products.

• What are the benefits of using a Master Production Schedule?

A Master Production Schedule can help to ensure that production is kept on track and that products are produced in the right quantities at the right times. This can help to reduce costs, improve efficiency and increase customer satisfaction.

• What information is included in a Master Production Schedule?

A Master Production Schedule typically includes information such as the item number, item description, quantity to be produced, date of production, and resources required.

• What are the different types of Master Production Schedules?

There are two types of Master Production Schedules: discrete and continuous. A discrete MPS focuses on the production of one item at a time, while a continuous MPS focuses on producing multiple items at once.

• How is a Master Production Schedule created?

A Master Production Schedule is typically created by analyzing customer demand, inventory levels, and production capabilities. This information is then used to create a plan that outlines the timing and quantity of production for each product and item.

• What is the difference between a Master Production Schedule and a Production Schedule?

A Master Production Schedule is a high-level plan that outlines the overall production process, while a Production Schedule is a more detailed plan that outlines the specific steps and tasks that need to be completed in order to produce a product.

• What are the components of a Master Production Schedule?

The components of a Master Production Schedule typically include the production plan, bill of materials, resource requirements, and delivery dates.

• What tools are used to create a Master Production Schedule?

There are a variety of software tools available that can be used to create and manage a Master Production Schedule. These tools typically include features such as demand forecasting, inventory management, and scheduling.

• What are the key performance indicators for a Master Production Schedule?

The key performance indicators for a Master Production Schedule typically include on-time delivery, inventory accuracy, production efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

As a manufacturer or retailer, it is crucial that you stay on top of your manufacturing processes and resource management.

You must manage production cycles, resource allocations, safety stock, reorder points, and much more to achieve this.

Deskera MRP is the one tool that lets you do all of the above. With Deskera, you can:

• Track raw materials and finished goods inventory
• Manage production plans and routings
• Maintain bill of materials
• Optimize resource allocations
• Generate detailed reports
• Create custom dashboards

And a lot more.

It is also possible to export information and data on Deskera MRP from other systems. Additionally, Deskera MRP will give you analytics and insights to help you make decisions.

So go ahead and book a demo for Deskera MRP today!

The master production schedule is a production planning tool that defines how much of a product needs to be manufactured at different periods. This simple schedule can thus be used as a basis for further planning and scheduling throughout your business.

The five main functions of a master production schedule are:

• Translating production plans
• Evaluating alternative schedules
• Produce capacity requirements
• Facilitate information processing
• Utilization of capacity

The elements needed for making your master production schedule are:

• Product list
• Variation sub-lists for each product
• Dividing your production schedule into years, months, and weeks
• Production quantities in a week

The seven proven steps for making an effective master production schedule are:

• Understand and define your products
• Set your lead time targets

The three tips that you must follow while making your master production schedule are:

• Create a realistic schedule
• Start with your high-priority items
• Break down each task into a smaller steps

The different production workflows that your master production schedule will be compatible with are:

• Make-to-stock environments
• Make-to-order environments
• Assemble-to-order environments

What will help you make the most effective master production schedule, ease your modifications on it, and help you stay on top of its management without any hassle is the use of software like Deskera MRP, which will automate several of your business processes.

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Production schedule template

Reduce delays—and the unnecessary costs that come with them—with a production schedule template. Create a production schedule template to easily replicate your production process and keep work on track.

Sign up to create your own template.

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Timely production and deliveries are crucial. Many companies rely on a schedule to track the production process, give realistic estimates for product completion, and determine shipping dates. But it’s not enough to just throw some dates on the calendar—for production schedules to be effective, they need to incorporate the most important parts of your production process. 

While a predetermined schedule can help you plan work and estimate timing, the reality is, production is complex and unpredictable. For example, a supply chain disruption can cause an unexpected delay, or a product might take longer than planned to build. So how do you ensure that your schedules are consistent—and that production stays on track and organized—while also staying flexible when the unexpected occurs?  

Answer: with a dynamic production schedule template.

What is a production schedule template?

A production schedule template is an outline of your production schedule, where you track the production process from start to finish. Production schedules give the basic details of the process—what you’re making (the product) and when it will be ready (the due date). 

Production schedule templates are typically used in manufacturing production, where it’s common to produce hundreds—or even thousands—of products a day. But any team, organization, or industry that builds products can benefit from using a template. Once you save your master production schedule template, you can build and launch a new schedule in a matter of minutes. 

Why do you need a production schedule template?

Your production schedule tracks the production process, supply, and demand— helping you deliver the products your customers want, on time. Templatizing your schedule saves you the time and effort of creating a new one from scratch every time you make a new product. If you’re managing a variety of product schedules across multiple production teams, using a project schedule template keeps scheduling cohesive. Plus, it can help you track other crucial aspects of your production, such as forecasting trends and supply chain movements. 

How to use a production schedule template

You'll find a variety of free production schedule templates on the web—but the key to an effective schedule isn't just the template itself, it’s the software that supports it. By creating your template in a dynamic platform, such as work management software , you can use features to further enhance and optimize production. For example, you can use automations for inventory management that instantly update your inventory as you make new products.

When creating your production schedule template, use sections to clearly show stakeholders exactly what you are producing, and when they can expect it to be finished. To do this, include:

Order details: List the order number, item description, customer name or other identifying information about the order, so it’s easy to reference what’s in production.

Production status: Update your production status as you move through the process to show stakeholders where each order is, and if it’s on track.

Work schedule and due dates: Build a work schedule with clear due dates indicating when production will start and end. Be sure to include the tasks and milestones in between these dates, and list any dependencies —from pre-production all the way through completion. 

Orders (quantity): How many products do you need to make? Tracking this helps to show the expected production rate versus the actual. If there’s a difference, you can adjust your process to ensure each production schedule meets your quota, and you don’t fall behind.

Raw materials needed/used: What do you need to make your products? Use these numbers for resource management and capacity planning, so you can get more accurate estimates for what it takes to produce specific items or fulfill orders.

Integrations and apps to use with your template

Try these features and app integrations to customize your production schedule template and fit your team's unique needs.

Integrated features

List View . List View is a grid-style view that makes it easy to see all of your project’s information at a glance. Like a to-do list or a spreadsheet, List View displays all of your tasks at once so you can not only see task titles and due dates, but also view any relevant custom fields like Priority, Status, or more. Unlock effortless collaboration by giving your entire team visibility into who’s doing what by when.

Timeline View . Timeline View is a Gantt-style project view that displays all of your tasks in a horizontal bar chart. Not only can you see each task’s start and end date, but you can also see dependencies between tasks. With Timeline View, you can easily track how the pieces of your plan fit together. Plus, when you can see all of your work in one place, it’s easy to identify and address dependency conflicts before they start, so you can hit all of your goals on schedule.

Automation . Automate manual work so your team spends less time on the busy work and more time on the tasks you hired them for. Rules in Asana function on a basis of triggers and actions—essentially “when X happens, do Y.” Use Rules to automatically assign work, adjust due dates, set custom fields, notify stakeholders, and more. From ad hoc automations to entire workflows, Rules gives your team time back for skilled and strategic work.

Custom fields . Custom fields are the best way to tag, sort, and filter work. Create unique custom fields for any information you need to track—from priority and status to email or phone number. Use custom fields to sort and schedule your to-dos so you know what to work on first. Plus, share custom fields across tasks and projects to ensure consistency across your organization. 

Google Workplace . Attach files directly to tasks in Asana with the Google Workplace file chooser, which is built into the Asana task pane. Easily attach any My Drive file with just a few clicks.

Dropbox . Attach files directly to tasks in Asana with the Dropbox file chooser, which is built into the Asana task pane.

OneDrive . Attach files directly to tasks in Asana with the Microsoft OneDrive file chooser, which is built into the Asana task pane. Easily attach files from Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more.

Gmail . With the Asana for Gmail integration, you can create Asana tasks directly from your Gmail inbox. Any tasks you create from Gmail will automatically include the context from your email, so you never miss a beat. Need to refer to an Asana task while composing an email? Instead of opening Asana, use the Asana for Gmail add-on to simply search for that task directly from your Gmail inbox.

How do you create a production schedule template? .css-i4fobf{-webkit-transition:-webkit-transform 200ms ease-in-out;transition:transform 200ms ease-in-out;-webkit-transform:rotateZ(0);-moz-transform:rotateZ(0);-ms-transform:rotateZ(0);transform:rotateZ(0);}

You can create a production schedule template in a doc, but it won’t be as efficient. Instead, create your template in a dynamic platform, like work management software , to use automations, tracking, and reporting features that will streamline your production process. When building your template, include relevant information such as order and customer details, the production status, and relevant due dates.

What are the benefits of using a production schedule template?

Production schedule templates ensure that every team is structuring their production schedules in the same way, company-wide. Companies often have many different products they’re working on at the same time, so templates are a way to trim down on planning work (because you don’t need to create a new schedule from scratch every time). Plus, using one consistent template for your production schedule makes it easier to identify bottlenecks or recurring issues, and make changes for a smoother, more efficient process.

What are the five components of production scheduling in manufacturing?

The five components of production scheduling in manufacturing are planning, routing, scheduling‍, dispatching‍, and execution‍. If you’re using your production schedule template for manufacturing, you’d create it during the production planning stage.

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How to manage your production schedule and hit your deadlines

Not everything will go according to plan on the shop floor. That’s just a fact of life that you have to deal with — like how Snapple discontinued their glass bottles.

But to maintain steady production and good relationships with your customers, you need a reliable production schedule.

In the past, a notebook, checklists, and thorough daily inspections and interviews were the only way to control the production schedule.

While new digital tools have made this process a lot easier, it can be hard to set up the right platform.

In this article, we’ll cover what a production schedule is, common production strategies, pitfalls to watch out for, and how to effectively manage one in 2021.

What is a production schedule in manufacturing?

In manufacturing, a production schedule is a timeline set up to create the right amount of products to meet the demand within a timeframe. It helps you keep your costs low and avoid overproduction while still meeting your deadlines.

For a manufacturer, a solid production schedule is the foundation of a healthy customer relationship.

Note: The term production schedule is also used in video production , but that’s not what we’ll cover in this post. We’ll focus on the production of physical products.

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What does a production schedule include?

A production schedule includes the necessary inputs and outputs, like raw materials, labor, routing, and more.

It covers the expected demand and the process of sourcing and turning enough raw materials into products during a limited timeframe.

A basic high-level overview might look something like this:

But you’d also need to plan out quantities of raw materials, timelines for supplier deliveries, and more. Tailor the master production schedule to your company’s unique process.

In production scheduling, you can’t just copy and paste a template and celebrate a job well done. You must make sure that it outlines all the moving parts in your production process.

To keep track of everything, teams often divide a master production schedule into 5 stages.

• Planning:  estimating the number of products to make based on previous demand in similar periods or standing orders
• Routing: mapping out the path from raw material to finished product
• Scheduling: setting deadlines, assigning workers, and making purchasing decisions to meet the demand outlined in the planning phase
• Dispatching: assigning the tasks outlined in the previous phases in a way that makes sense in the current circumstances
• Execution:  putting the plan into practice.

If you only cover production planning, routing, and scheduling with no system for dispatching or execution, your plan is limited.

Standardizing these processes and having fail-safes in place is crucial to stable production and sturdy customer relationships.

But the first stage of production planning is crucial. It sets the tone for all the following elements of the schedule and implementation. After all, producing 1,000 units and 10,000 units is a different ball game.

That’s why your planning approach is so important.

What are the basic production planning strategies?

Some of the most common strategies are level production, make-to-stock, and assemble-to-order. (There’s also the chase strategy, but we don’t recommend it.)

• Level production:  you keep your production output fixed over time. It’s the easiest to manage logistically but can quickly lead to over or underproduction. Consumer demand fluctuates, so you need large safety stores and a large buffer to meet targets consistently.
• Make-to-stock:  you make enough products to fill the shelves of your retailers. It’s not ideal for slower supply chains, as you need a 100%-perfect customer demand forecast.
• Assemble-to-order: you only make the exact amount of production orders from your customers.  Very common with perishable products, like finished food dishes. But it’s growing in popularity as a part of the Lean manufacturing movement, too.
• Chase strategy:  you try to predict and match the demand at any given time. The goal is to carry as few leftover products as possible. It’s hard to implement in rapidly growing or changing markets.

You can also categorize these even broader into push (expect demand) and pull (make only after orders).

( Image Sources )

The epitome of the push approach is level production. On the other side of the spectrum, make-to-order is the best example of pull.

The upside of a push approach is that you have more leftover inventory during a crisis. But most companies avoid this approach because of high overhead costs and a much slower cash flow.

You also may not store all the products in a way where your supply will truly last much longer. Unforeseen fluctuations in demand can mean that you need to change your priorities.

A company that’s used to a static production plan will often struggle to adjust.

Next up, we’ll explore some of the most common issues with production scheduling.

Common production schedule pitfalls

Some of the most common pitfalls include too much faith in your supply chain and over or understocking.

Let’s take a closer look.

Thinking that the supply chain is infallible

The global lockdowns in 2020 proved how fragile most companies’ supply chains are. But even in the non-pandemic year of 2019, there were 1,000s of supply chain disruptions that impacted US businesses.

( Image Source )

The outcome of a disruption can be devastating:

• Delayed shipments can damage or destroy customer relationships.
• Supplier bankruptcies can disrupt your entire business.
• Ordering raw materials, vehicles, or services last minute is a lot more expensive.
• Lasting brand damage can cost you new customers for years to come.

To solve this problem, supply chain leaders are focusing on resilience. They’re increasing their number of suppliers and focusing more on local or regional supply chains.

Improving robustness is a core principle of good supply chain management.

Keeping too much or too little safety stock

If the production process takes a long time, the last thing you want is to keep your customers waiting.

Can you handle a few days less production if a supplier’s shipment is late? Do you have a stock buffer? If your answer is “no” to both, you’re asking for a disruption.

But on the other hand, having too much stock hanging around isn’t good, either.  You effectively slow down your cash flow and ability to invest in other products and projects.

So, calculate the ideal safety stock based on average delivery issues and the demand cycle.

You also need a bare minimum of excess supply and materials to handle return requests at an acceptable rate.

Miscalculating when you’ll need the materials

You must know when in the manufacturing process you need each raw material in what quantities.

If you miscalculate when you need some materials in the production process, that’s it. Production has to pause or pivot to another product until it arrives.

The cost of unplanned downtime varies based on your company size and industry. In oil and gas, the average cost of unplanned downtime was $5 million  last year.

Make sure that you don’t fall victim to these basic pitfalls when creating your production schedules.

How to manage your production schedule with monday.com

monday.com’s wide range of native integrations and extensibility through our automation builder and application programming interface (API) can help you modernize your production workflow.

You can use our robust platform to build the exact production scheduling software your company needs. Get more work done and avoid mistakes with all the information you need in one place.

Read also: CRM feature guide for manufacturing

Create a custom production schedule using our templates.

monday.com offers a basic manufacturing production process and schedule template. You can easily customize this with the necessary information and timelines.

For example, you can add material tags and deadlines for material shipments. If there are other specifications than colors, you can add that in too.

You can also upload relevant files, like CAD drawings, directly to each order. Essentially, you want to outline your entire process from start to finish.

If you don’t cover all your bases, you leave room for error or misinterpretation.

Keep track of supply orders and inventory in real-time.

With monday.com, you can also handle cloud inventory management  from the same dashboard.

For example, you can monitor all incoming supply orders and compare them to your current inventory.

With these boards readily available, it’s easy to assess any potential cash flow or inventory issues.

Use automations and integrations to keep the right people informed at all times.

Use our 40+ native integrations and powerful automation builder to keep everyone on the same page. For example, send automatic Slack messages or emails when you exceed a due delivery date.

For B2B companies who use a bulk ordering and invoicing system, you can even set up order forms directly from monday.com.

If you use enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, you can easily build an integration using our API and 50+ pre-made adaptors.

On-time production is key to healthy customer relationships

If you can’t deliver products on time, your customers won’t be happy. It doesn’t matter if they’re resellers or end consumers — you need to keep your deadlines.

A healthy production schedule that factors in risk buffers, combined with a bare minimum stock surplus, is crucial to any manufacturing company.

Use monday.com’s ready-made manufacturing template  to start taking back control of your production.

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• Production Planning and Scheduling

PRODUCTION PLANNING AND SCHEDULING

Production planning is the function of establishing an overall level of output, called the production plan. The process also includes any other activities needed to satisfy current planned levels of sales, while meeting the firm's general objectives regarding profit, productivity, lead times, and customer satisfaction, as expressed in the overall business plan. The managerial objective of production planning is to develop an integrated game plan where the operations portion is the production plan. This production plan, then, should link the firm's strategic goals to operations (the production function) as well as coordinating operations with sales objectives, resource availability, and financial budgets.

The production-planning process requires the comparison of sales requirements and production capabilities and the inclusion of budgets, pro forma financial statements, and supporting plans for materials and workforce requirements, as well as the production plan itself. A primary purpose of the production plan is to establish production rates that will achieve management's objective of satisfying customer demand. Demand satisfaction could be accomplished through the maintaining, raising, or lowering of inventories or backlogs, while keeping the workforce relatively stable. If the firm has implemented a just-in-time philosophy, the firm would utilize a chase strategy, which would mean satisfying customer demand while keeping inventories at a minimum level.

The term production planning is really too limiting since the intent is not to purely produce a plan for the operations function. Because the plan affects many firm functions, it is normally prepared with information from marketing and coordinated with the functions of manufacturing, engineering, finance, materials, and so on. Another term, sales and operations planning, has recently come into use, more accurately representing the concern with coordinating several critical activities within the firm.

Production planning establishes the basic objectives for work in each of the major functions. It should be based on the best tradeoffs for the firm as a whole, weighing sales and marketing objectives, manufacturing's cost, scheduling and inventory objectives, and the firm's financial objectives. All these must be integrated with the strategic view of where the company wants to go.

The production-planning process typically begins with an updated sales forecast covering the next 6 to 18 months. Any desired increase or decrease in inventory or backlog levels can be added or subtracted, resulting in the production plan. However, the production plan is not a forecast of demand. It is planned production, stated on an aggregate basis. An effective production-planning process will typically utilize explicit time fences for when the aggregate plan can be changed (increased or decreased). Also, there may be constraints on the degree of change (amount of increase or decrease).

The production plan also provides direct communication and consistent dialogue between the operations function and upper management, as well as between operations and the firm's other functions. As such, the production plan must necessarily be stated in terms that are meaningful to all within the firm, not just the operations executive. Some firms state the production plan as the dollar value of total input (monthly, quarterly, etc.). Other firms may break the total output down by individual factories or major product lines. Still other firms state the plan in terms of total units for each product line. The key here is that the plan be stated in some homogeneous unit, commonly understood by all, that is also consistent with that used in other plans.

PRODUCTION SCHEDULING

The production schedule is derived from the production plan; it is a plan that authorized the operations function to produce a certain quantity of an item within a specified time frame. In a large firm, the production schedule is drawn in the production planning department, whereas, within a small firm, a production schedule could originate with a lone production scheduler or even a line supervisor.

Production scheduling has three primary goals or objectives. The first involves due dates and avoiding late completion of jobs. The second goal involves throughput times; the firm wants to minimize the time a job spends in the system, from the opening of a shop order until it is closed or completed. The third goal concerns the utilization of work centers. Firms usually want to fully utilize costly equipment and personnel.

Often, there is conflict among the three objectives. Excess capacity makes for better due-date performance and reduces throughput time but wreaks havoc on utilization. Releasing extra jobs to the shop can increase the utilization rate and perhaps improve due-date performance but tends to increase throughput time.

Quite a few sequencing rules (for determining the sequence in which production orders are to be run in the production schedule) have appeared in research and in practice. Some well-known ones adapted from Vollmann, Berry, Whybark and Jacobs (2005) are presented in Operations Scheduling.

THE PRODUCTION PLANNING AND PRODUCTION SCHEDULING INTERFACE

There are fundamental differences in production planning and production scheduling. Planning models often utilize aggregate data, cover multiple stages in a medium-range time frame, in an effort to minimize total costs. Scheduling models use detailed information, usually for a single stage or facility over a short term horizon, in an effort to complete jobs in a timely manner. Despite these differences, planning and scheduling often have to be incorporated into a single framework, share information, and interact extensively with one another. They also may interact with other models such as forecasting models or facility location models.

It should be noted that a major shift in direction has occurred in recent research on scheduling methods. Much of what was discussed was developed for job shops. As a result of innovations such as computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) and just-in-time (JIT), new processes being established in today's firms are designed to capture the benefits of repetitive manufacturing and continuous flow manufacturing. Therefore, much of the new scheduling research concerns new concepts and techniques for repetitive manufacturing-type operations. In addition, many of today's firms cannot plan and schedule only within the walls of their own factory as most are an entity with an overall supply chain. Supply chain management requires the coordination and integration of operations in all stages of the chain. If successive stages in a supply belong to the same firm, then these successive stages can be incorporated into a single planning and scheduling model. If not, constant interaction and information sharing are required to optimize the overall supply chain.

SEE ALSO: Aggregate Planning ; Operations Management ; Operations Scheduling ; Product-Process Matrix ; Supply Chain Management

R. Anthony Inman

FURTHER READING:

Hurtubise, Stephanie, and Claude Olivier, and Ali Gharbi. "Planning Tools for Managing the Supply Chain." Computers & Industrial Engineering 46 (2004): 763–779.

Kreipl, Stephan, and Michael Pinedo. "Planning and Scheduling in Supply Chains: An Overview of Issues in Practice." Production and Operations Management 13, no. 1 (2004): 77–92.

Vollmann, Thomas E., William L. Berry, Clay D. Whybark, and F. Robert Jacobs. Manufacturing Planning and Control for Supply Chain Management. 5th ed. New York: Irwin McGraw-Hill, 2005.

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Production Planning Template for Excel (Free Download)

In order to be successful, there are many best practices that production facilities need to consider when putting their schedules and plans together. Perhaps most significantly, everyone involved needs to clearly understand every part of the production process, from the small details to the big picture — otherwise, you risk missing key items that could slow down or even halt production.

Having a production plan is a great way to put your production and manufacturing processes on track right from the start, as it helps you prepare for what needs to be done. A production planning template even takes you one step further by providing an outline for your planning process, making it easier to form a cohesive and successful production plan.

What Is Production Planning?

A production plan is a guide that outlines every step involved in the production of a good. With production planning, the production process is more organized and efficient, and there is less of a risk of missing an important step that stops or slows down production. These plans help optimize the manufacturing process, which makes the design, production, and delivery of goods much easier to plan out.

A production plan includes steps for each part of your manufacturing process. This might include what the products are, the type and quantity of materials needed to produce them, the production schedule, and the delivery schedule. It could also include a schedule that shows who is responsible for each part of the process.

Most production plans include details about which machines are needed during the process, how many pieces of equipment are involved, and what quality assurance steps need to be taken before the product is ready for final delivery.

Why Is Production Planning Important?

Like most processes, planning plays an integral part of the production process. When you have a solid plan in place from the beginning, you have clear targets and a firm idea of what needs to happen in order to meet your goals. This reduces the chances of bottlenecks, which can lead to slowdowns that impede your productivity.

The ultimate goal of production planning is to create a more streamlined production process that lends itself to greater efficiency. More efficient processes lead to overall improvement in metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs). Tracking metrics and KPIs via digital tools and dashboards gives you at-a-glance insights into whether or not you are meeting production goals — which can let you know if your production plan needs to be tweaked.

Production planning also helps manufacturing businesses be better at resource management and capacity planning. Rather than having an overabundance of raw materials (or not enough) for production, you can plan out exactly what you need and avoid supply chain hold ups or unnecessary expenses. This gives you greater control over your inventory management and improves your lead times as well.

Another benefit of production planning is the internal alignment it creates. A clear production plan can be shared across your organization, from machine operators to upper management, which keeps everyone on the same page regarding production. When everyone is working from the same plan, you can more easily avoid internal conflict and confusion surrounding production, while also creating a more streamlined workflow across teams with fewer bottlenecks.

Breakout: What Is the Difference Between a Production Schedule and a Production Plan ?

Often, there is confusion around the terms “production schedule” and “production plan.” Both deal with the organization and high-level strategies around production, and while there are similarities, the two terms mean different things. A production schedule has clearly defined and assigned roles for each step of the manufacturing process, along with the timeline for when those tasks need to be accomplished.

The production plan, on the other hand, determines what needs to be produced and how much of it needs to be completed in each run. Another way to think about the two is that the production plan outlines the “what” — the steps and materials needed to produce a good — while the production schedule outlines the “who” and “when” — who is responsible for each step of the process and when they need to have them done.

What Are the 3 Stages of Production Planning?

There are three major stages of production planning that an organization needs to follow. If you complete the stages out of order or leave one out entirely, your production plan could end up being incomplete. This can lead to missed steps and bottlenecks that cause issues throughout the entire production process. Next, we’ll take a look at each phase in greater detail.

Planning Phase

The planning phase addresses the end goals of your production process and helps you determine what type of schedule and plan is best suited to help you achieve your goals. This could include steps like:

• Product development
• Sales forecasting
• Aggregate planning
• Raw material planning

Action Phase

The action phase of the production plan outlines the different steps that need to be taken in order to create the product that your plan is for. This phase addresses all of the steps of production, from the initial job order to the final delivery and everything in between. Those specific steps might include:

• Process routing
• Material planning
• Tool planning
• Machine loading

Control Phase

The final stage of the production planning process is the control phase. This phase helps ensure that all the other steps in the planning and action phases are measured and reported correctly, which ensures that end goals are being met. This also includes any measures needed to fix errors in the plan and addresses any mistakes that might come up during the production process. The main steps in this phase are:

• Progress reporting
• Metric tracking
• Corrective action planning

What Are the Benefits of a Production Plan?

A production plan provides many different benefits that organizations across the globe can benefit from. It provides clear benchmarks for measuring key elements of the production process and ensures that the entire organization is clear about what the production process is. When manufacturers utilize a production plan, they can avoid confusion, waste, and delays. This helps provide a better customer experience and makes sure that manufacturers deliver on the promises they make to suppliers and purchasers. Other benefits include:

• Resource management
• Supply chain planning
• Internal project alignment
• Goal and milestone tracking
• Increased clarity
• Singular database for tracking and minimizing backlogs
• Team-wide visibility into production
• Streamlined workflows

While production planning offers many different benefits, many manufacturers may still shy away from the idea because the process of creating the plan is too overwhelming to think about. Luckily, Anvyl’s production planning template alleviates the pressure of building a plan from scratch, which can get your organization on the right track much sooner.

Download Anvyl’s Production Planning Template

How Do You Create a Production Plan in Excel?

Many production plans are built using spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. You can use these programs to create Gantt charts, which clearly lay out the different elements of the production process in a visual format. This helps with project management and tracking everything from customer orders to the bill of material that is required for each product. These are simplistic charts that any member of your team can follow.

A production plan includes details like:

• Company information
• Customer information
• Current order status
• Production or product numbers
• Product variations
• Starting inventory
• Current inventory
• Manufacturing dates
• Operator or management notes

Each organization functions differently, so no two production plans will be the same. There will be some level of customization required, even if the plan comes from a standardized template.

An Excel template can work as a jumping-off point, allowing your business to build around your own goals and needs without starting from scratch. Keep in mind that a template should be flexible enough to allow for personalization while also being rigid enough that you don’t miss vital steps. The Anvyl production planning template was built with this mentality: to help manufacturers improve their processes and create a better production planning experience with a unique, customizable approach.

Try Anvyl’s Free Production Planning Template

At Anvyl, we understand that there are a lot of considerations to keep in mind as you work on creating your production plan. This is why we provide a planning template that you can use to optimize your production planning, project management, and capacity planning — all while reducing bottlenecks and avoiding production shutdowns.

The Anvyl production planning template was created to make the entire process of production planning easier for you and your team. Rather than creating a production plan from scratch, you can get started faster by using our template. The legwork is already done for you — all you need to do is customize the Excel spreadsheet to fit your business.

Get your free download of our production planning template and get started today .

Take Control of Your Production Process With Anvyl

Having control over your production process ensures that you are optimized for success and efficiency. When you don’t have a production plan, it’s hard to see whether or not you’re hitting your benchmarks — which makes it even harder to hit your goals.

When you have a well-constructed production plan organized in a versatile Excel template, you can build a strong production process that can withstand challenges and produce the results that your organization desires.

Investing in a platform that helps you streamline your processes is a great way to benefit your business. With resources like Anvyl, you can create a centralized database and manage your supplier relations with ease. Our team has been helping manufacturers manage their production planning for many years — try a product demo to learn more about what Anvyl can do for your organization.

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Production Schedule

Schedule generator.

There are a number of important factors or elements that contribute to the progress of a business. One of it is the production. While production plays an essential role in a company’s success, it still has to be considered that most business fail to be optimally productive, which results in lower profit, or worse, bankruptcy. This is because the entire process of production is not properly managed. A schedule example , when properly and carefully planned, can provide the solution to this dilemma.

Production Schedule Template Example

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Event Production Schedule Template

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Production Schedule Template

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Work Production Schedule

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Schedule for Film Production

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Master Production Schedule

Sample Production Schedule

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What Is a Production Schedule?

A production schedule is a document that contains a detailed information relating to the formulation and generation of goods or materials with reference to its proper timeline. It can also be defined as a plan of how the production budget for a project will be spent over a determined timeline, through each phase of production.

Production schedules are often used in connection with employee schedules . These two work hand in hand to properly facilitate the entire course of action. In addition to that, the former can also be applied in many businesses such as manufacturing, agriculture, and filming industry.

How to Make a Production Schedule

A good production schedule sample can both accommodate the needs of its subjects and provide good results. And in order to make one, you need to consider a lot of elements.

• Create an objective. This is the same discipline that  you need to apply just like when you create a training schedule . Creating an objective allows you to think out of the box and look at production in a different perspective.
• Consider your resources. Once you have established your smart goal , think of the supporting components like the materials and other resources needed for the production.
• Set a reasonable timeline. It is important that you think practical when setting the timeline. It makes your target attainable.

Schedule for Event Production

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Pre Production Schedule

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Schedule for Video Production

Size: 88 KB

Free Production Schedule

Size: 11 KB

How to Improve Production Scheduling

Making a production schedule is not an easy task. You need multidisciplinary skills and a clear understanding of the objective. In order to improve your production scheduling competence you need to be able to address the hidden needs in the production. This allows you to create a flexible schedule examples in PDF .

In addition to that, you need to think out of the box. Think extraordinary. Just because somebody says everything is okay doesn’t mean you have to settle in. Always think one step ahead. You can always come up with solutions to any problems that might arise in the process.

Why Do You Need a Production Schedule?

You need a production schedule in excel simply because nothing can be accomplished by way of impulsive and random action. Everything has to be planned, especially in the field of production. You cannot always come up with abrupt solutions and think that they will work instantaneously.

Schedules are designed to help you plan ahead of time. They allow you to set a series of activities, give them appropriate timescales, and work out any backup strategies in case the first one fails. A production schedule helps you create parameters and step-by-step activities essential to attain your target and make you reach your goal.

Any of the above examples should give you further insight.

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Production Reporting: What to Include in a Production Report

Scheduling production, planning a budget and allocating resources only sets up manufacturing for success. Monitoring and controlling that process ensures that deadlines are met and costs aren’t exceeded. One way to keep track of the manufacturing process is with a production report.

To take advantage of this useful manufacturing tool means first understanding what production reporting and a production report are. To make production reports even clearer, we’ll then outline a production report example. Finally, we’ll add links to free project management templates to help manufacturers deliver on time and within budget.

What Is Production Reporting?

Production reporting is a process managers use in manufacturing to analyze, visualize and understand the current state of the production process . It can also compare with historical performance to provide some context to the data.

We’ll get into what’s included in a production report in greater detail, but usually, they include dashboards, reports, charts, graphs and other ways to display data to make it easier for managers and stakeholders to understand various production key performance indicators (KPIs).

Production reporting is also used to identify weaknesses that can be addressed and resolved to have production run more efficiently. Some issues that a production report can capture include bottlenecks, unplanned downtime and poor machine utilization.

What Is a Production Report?

A production report is a product of the product reporting process. It’s a document that includes manufacturing KPIs that allows organizations to track various aspects of their manufacturing process such as for the production volume that’s manufactured over a specific period.

A production report will also include the production capacity utilization rate, any issues in the production line and how efficiently products are manufactured in terms of time, quality and costs. The main objective of a production report is to provide data that production managers can use for production management and optimization purposes.

If production managers use project management software, they often have access to reporting features that can assemble this information. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software with customizable reports that provide real-time data for more insightful decision-making. Generate status, workload, timesheet, variance and other reports in just a keystroke. All reports can be filtered and shared with stakeholders to keep them updated. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

Production Report Example Outline

Production managers use the production report to monitor production to increase efficiency. To do this, the production report tracks a number of manufacturing KPIs . While a production report can cover a wide range of metrics, generally, it has a core set of KPIs.

A manufacturing KPI is a metric to understand the efficiency of the production process. It should reflect strategic goals, be quantifiable and measurable, but also attainable and actionable. The following is a project report example of those fundamental manufacturing KPIs that production managers track.

1. Production Efficiency

The overall goal of a production report is to achieve the highest possible efficiency in the processes being executed. That is, the maximum level of production output that can be produced without lowering the quality of the finished goods, increasing their production cost or extending the production schedule . This can be broken down into three main subsets.

• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE): This metric refers to the percentage of time a plant is producing or manufacturing high-quality products as quickly as possible, with no downtime.
• Overall Operations Effectiveness (OOE): Calculates the availability of factory operations from the beginning to the end of the production process.
• Total Effective Equipment Performance (TEEP): This metric gauges resource utilization , such as how the plant is performing in relation to the output it would achieve if it were in operation continuously throughout the year (24/7) and always producing quality products.

2. Production Costs

When reporting on production costs it should include all the expenses that have been incurred from manufacturing a product. That means direct costs, such as raw materials and labor, as well as indirect costs, such as rent and overhead. All of these costs are added up to come up with the total production costs.

3. Production Volume

Production volume measures how many units are manufactured over a specific period. This is a fundamental benchmark for manufacturing efficiency and helps production managers understand the total output the factory can produce. The production volume to be manufactured by an organization should be determined by its production budget .

4. Production Downtime

Production downtime refers to the time a factory’s assembly lines aren’t operating. This covers both planned and unplanned downtime. By reducing the downtime, production managers can increase the productivity of their manufacturing efforts.

5. Work-In-Progress

Work-in-progress (WIP) is the cost of unfinished goods in the manufacturing process. This includes all your production costs such as the costs of direct labor, raw materials and manufacturing overhead . This differs from finished goods, which are products ready to be sold to the consumer.

6. Throughput Rate

The throughput rate measures the volume made over a specific period. This KPI analyzes and compares similar equipment, production lines and manufacturing plants. It’s calculated by dividing the total number of good units produced by the specific time frame.

7. Capacity Utilization

Capacity utilization measures how much of a plant’s production capacity is in use. This helps to determine the efficiency of the plant but also can assess its future growth. To calculate this KPI, divide the total capacity used during a specific period by the total available production capacity. Then multiply that figure by 100.

8. First-Time Right (FTR)

First-time right comes from total quality management (TQM) and Six Sigma , which is a set of methodologies and tools used to improve business processes by reducing defects and errors, minimizing variations and increasing quality and efficiency. It’s a measurement to ensure that activities are performed correctly the first time to avoid the need for rework, which takes time and adds costs to production.

9. Maintenance Costs

Maintenance costs are all the costs related to the activities in your maintenance schedule . This metric helps production managers monitor the performance of a machine over time with the goal of optimizing equipment availability while keeping costs at a minimum. Maintenance unit cost is the total maintenance expenses required to produce one product unit during a specified period. To calculate maintenance costs, divide the total maintenance costs in a specific time frame by the number of products produced during that same time frame.

Free Production Management Templates

Production reports are only one piece of the larger picture that makes up manufacturing and the management of those processes required to create a commodity. Many templates can help throughout the project management process.

ProjectManager has over 100 free project management templates for Excel and Word that can be downloaded right now to help with every project phase. Some templates address several different industries. Below are a few that can be used for production management.

Production Schedule Template

Use this free production schedule template for Excel to make a plan that balances the supply and demand in the production of goods over a period. This flexible template can respond to demand fluctuations and helps avoid inventory stockouts.

Production Capacity Planning Template

Capacity planning helps production managers determine how much production capacity is needed to meet the demand for their products. Use this free production capacity planning template for Excel to help meet the constantly fluctuating demand.

Resource Plan Template

Production reports are tracking efficiency and one way to improve efficiency is by planning resources better. That can be done with our free resource plan template for Excel. It lists all your employees, their departments and hourly rates. It then maps out their schedule on a calendar.

ProjectManager Helps With Production Reporting

Production management templates are only so helpful. Production managers and their teams will soon experience their limitations. They are static documents that require manual updates and are poor collaborative tools. Upgrading to project management software provides greater control over production and, therefore, increases efficiency. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that can help manage resources and monitor costs and more to identify weaknesses and improve efficiency.

Make Production Schedules With Multiple Tools

Before monitoring manufacturing KPIs with a production report, production managers can set the stage for a successful project by making a production schedule. Tasks, resources and costs can be organized on the Gantt chart or sheet view, which is simply a Gantt chart without a timeline. Link all four types of task dependencies to avoid costly delays and, once the schedule is done, capture it by setting a baseline.

Now production managers can track project variance in real time. Teams don’t need all the bells and whistles of a Gantt chart or sheet view, which is why multiple project views share the schedule and update simultaneously. Track inventory on visual kanban boards and line workers can complete tasks on the list view and stakeholders can get a monthly overview with the calendar view.

Manage Resources & Monitor Production Costs

Production reports seek efficiencies and one area that can always be improved is resources. Managing resources starts with the onboarding of employees. At this point, their availability can be set, such as vacation days, PTO and global holidays. This makes it easier to assign them work. Use the team page or color-coded workload chart to see the team’s allocation and balance their workload to keep them working at capacity.

Use our secure timesheets to ensure that labor costs align with the budget. Not only do they streamline payroll, but they provide visibility into how far each team member is in completing their tasks. For a high-level overview of production costs, use the real-time dashboard.

Related Production Management Content

Production reporting is only one part of the larger production management process. For readers who care to go deeper into the subject, our site is an online hub for all things project management. We publish blogs, tutorial videos, free templates and more that address every aspect of managing a project and as it applies to many different industries. Here are a handful of links to stories about production management in manufacturing.

• How to Make a Production Flow Chart for Manufacturing
• Cost of Production: Types of Production Costs
• How to Make a Production Order for Manufacturing
• Production vs. Manufacturing: Key Differences
• How to Calculate Production Capacity: Formula & Examples

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