Produktionsplanungssysteme

Produktionsplanung, or production planning, is the process by which a manufacturing organization determines how best to produce goods to satisfy demand while optimizing the use of resources. The goal is to balance supply and demand, minimize costs, meet delivery commitments, and reduce risks within the production system.

Key elements include demand forecasting, capacity planning, the master production schedule, material requirements planning, routing and shop-floor loading, and inventory control. The planning process typically operates at three levels: long-term strategic planning (facility capacity, capital investments), mid-term tactical planning (aggregate production plans, inventory policies), and short-term operational planning (scheduling, sequencing, and shop-floor control).

Common methodologies are aggregate planning, master production scheduling, material requirements planning (MRP and MRPII), and finite capacity scheduling. Many organizations use enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to integrate planning with procurement, production, and distribution. Approaches can be push (forecast-driven) or pull (demand-driven), and lean manufacturing seeks to minimize waste in both planning and execution.

Outcomes of effective production planning include improved service levels, shorter lead times, reduced inventory and carrying costs, and better utilization of machinery and labor. Challenges include demand volatility, lead-time variability, setup and changeover times, capacity constraints, and ensuring data accuracy. In modern contexts, production planning is closely linked to supply chain management, procurement, and logistics to align production with overall business objectives.