Production is a process or procedure developed to transform a set of
inputs like men, materials, capital, information and energy into a specified set
of outputs like finished products and services in proper quantity and quality.
It consists of series of sequential operations to produce a desirable product
acceptable to customer and meet the customer demand with respect to quality
and intended function.
Planning and control are the two important components of the
management process. Production planning and control is a tool which
coordinates all the manufacturing activities in a production system. Production
planning starts with the analysis of the given data (i.e. demand for products,
delivery schedule etc.) and on the basis of the information available, a scheme
of utilization of firm’s resources like machines, men and materials are worked
out to obtain the target in the economical way.
Once the plan is prepared, then the operations are performed in line with
the details given in the plan. Production control comes into action if there is
any deviation between the actual and planned. The corrective action [if any
deviation] is taken so as to achieve the targets as per the plan by using control
techniques.
Definition:
According to Charles A. Koepke “Production Planning and Control is
defined as the coordination of the series of functions according to a plan which
will economically utilize the plant facilities and regulate the orderly movement
of goods during the entire manufacturing cycle from the procurement of all
materials to the shipping of finished goods at a predetermined rate”.
Production planning and control is a way of regulating as well as
directing the movement of goods to whole of the production cycle, right from
raw materials to the final delivery of the products so that the objective like
maximum production, minimum inventory as well as customer service are ful