Fabricageplanning

Fabricageplanning is the systematic planning and control of fabrication activities required to convert inputs into finished products within manufacturing. It covers determining what to produce, when to produce it, and how, while coordinating people, machines, materials, and information to meet demand efficiently and cost-effectively.

Its core components include demand management, master production planning, material requirements planning, capacity planning, and shop floor scheduling. It also involves routing and process planning, inventory control, and quality planning. Effective fabricageplanning relies on accurate design data such as bills of materials, routings, and process plans, and is typically integrated with enterprise systems like ERP and manufacturing execution systems (MES).

The planning process typically starts with demand signals or orders, then develops a master production schedule that translates demand into time-phased production quantities. Material requirements planning determines procurement and material stocking needs, while capacity planning assesses whether resources can meet the schedule. Release of work orders, sequencing of tasks, and shop floor control ensure ongoing execution, with progress monitored and adjusted as conditions change.

Common tools and methods include MRPII/ERP, MES for execution, and digital twins or simulation for planning optimization. Lean manufacturing and constraint-based approaches may be used to improve flow, reduce buffers, and manage variability. Key performance indicators include overall equipment effectiveness, lead time, inventory turns, on-time delivery, and quality metrics.

Benefits of effective fabricageplanning include shorter lead times, lower inventory, higher on-time delivery, better capacity utilization, and more predictable production costs. Challenges involve data quality and integration across systems, accurate BOMs and routings, change management, and handling demand volatility and supply disruptions.