Production Planning
Planning is the drum beat of manufacturing and we’ll make sure you get the timing right
INTRODUCTION
Production planning efficiency
Production planning is a critical process to ensure efficient manufacturing operations. The process of production planning, when effectively deployed, aligns both material and resource requirements and enables a manufacturing operation to produce products in accordance with demand signals.
PRODUCTION PLANNING
The evolution of MRP
Production planning must recognise all demand signals, from external finished goods requirements down through to the intermediate components and raw materials identified within the bill of materials.
Traditionally, production planning focused solely on material requirements planning (referred to as MRP), but has now evolved to include materials and resources (referred to as MRPII). MRPII is often supported within some of the major Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platforms which look to advance MRPII further by integrating the planning process with other business functions, such as finance and customer service.
CLIENTS
Who we work with
HERE TO HELP
How we can help your business
Whilst there are a host of ERP systems in the market with full MRPII planning and scheduling capability, many businesses still operate within legacy ERP systems without such functionality, or find that the MRPII functionality within their system does not effectively manage the nuances of their manufacturing operation.
Our consultants are able to map the required production planning and scheduling processes and build the required models, either developing standalone models utilising VBA within Microsoft Excel or, in conjunction with one of our partners, generating a database solution hosted on a server and accessible via a web browser.
SERVICES
Example planning tool development approach
Step 1: Mapping the Planning Process
The first step in developing new tools for production planning and scheduling is to map the existing processes, identify opportunities for improvement and then develop a requirements specification.
Our consultants are able to undertake a rapid assessment of the existing production planning processes, and their constraints, and present the opportunities for improvement and the specification required for supporting tools. This assessment can be performed for each level of planning – from the strategic S&OP plan, down through the tactical Rough-Cut Capacity Plan and Master Production Schedule and ultimately through to the execution of the production schedule.
Step 2: Planning Tool Specification
There are many varied requirements for planning within manufacturing operations – one size does not fit all. Whilst all businesses need to have a process to generate S&OP plans at the strategic level, and Master Production Schedules at the tactical level, at the operational level some companies find Rough-Cut Capacity Planning sufficient, whilst some will need more granularity and will require a Detailed Capacity Plan.
The choice between the types of plans required, and their granularity, is most often driven by the type of product being produced. Typically, process driven industries such as chemical production will find a Rough-Cut Capacity Plan meets their needs, whilst discrete manufacturing operations, such as car plants, will often need Detailed Capacity Plans in order to determine their resource and material requirements.
Step 3: Planning Tool Development
Once the planning processes have been mapped, and specifications for planning tools have been developed, our consultants are then able to either develop VBA based tools in-house, or work with one of our partners to develop a database solution hosted on a server and accessible via a web browser.
Where clients already have existing MRP tools within their ERP system, we are also able to work closely with the ERP provider to ensure that the correct functionality is deployed and that the system fully supports each step of the required planning process.
INSIGHT
Production planning articles & advice
MRP, MRPII…DDMRP? The Planning of Manufacturing Explained
Of all the elements of a supply chain, the planning of manufacturing is the area that is probably most mired in confusing language and acronyms.
How Machine Learning Will Help Improve Production Planning
In the supply chain we are, largely, at the front of the game when it comes to machine learning and artificial intelligence. Machine learning has
Apple’s Supply Chain Edge is Under Pressure
As an example of how to operate a globalised supply chain, Apple is frequently hailed as the benchmark. However, according to an article dated 23rd
TESTIMONIALS
Client testimonials
CONTACT US
Have questions?
Get in touch!
Hello! I’m Tamsin, Client Services Coordinator at Paul Trudgian. Please get in touch by phone, email or the contact form and I’ll make sure your enquiry is dealt with promptly and passed to the right member of the consulting team. We look forward to hearing from you!
- Arion Business Centre, 118 High St, Harriet House, Erdington, Birmingham
- 0121 517 0008
- [email protected]
