Production Planning and Control: —_ Meaning, Characteristics and Objectives! Production planning and control is an important task of Production Manager. It has to see that production process is properly decided in advance and it is carried out as per the plan. Production is related to the conversion of raw materials into finished goods. This conversion process involves a number of steps such as deciding what to produce, how to produce, when to produce, etc. These decisions are a part, of production planning. Merely deciding about the task is not sufficient. The whole process should be carried out in a best possible way and at the lowest cost. Production Manager will have to see that the things proceed as per the plans. This is a control function and has to be carried as meticulously as planning. Both planning and control of production are necessary to produce better quality goods at reasonable prices and in a most systematic manner. Production planning is the function of looking ahead, anticipating difficulties to be faced and the likely remedial steps to remove them. It may be said to be a technique of forecasting ahead every step inthe long process of production, taking them at a right time and in the right degree and trying to complete the operations at maximum efficiency. Production control, on the other hand, guides and directs flow of production so that products are manufactured in a best way and conform to a planned schedule and are of the right quality. Control facilitates the task of manufacturing and see that everything, goes as per the plans. Goldon B. Carson: “Production planning and control involves generally the organization and planning of the manufacturing process. Specifically, it consists of the planning of the routing, scheduling, dispatching and inspection, co-ordination and the control of materials, methods, machines, tooling and operating times. The ultimate objective is the organization of the supply and movement of materials and labour, machine utilization and related activities, in order to bring about the desired manufacturing results in terms of quantity, time and place.” James L. Lundy: “Basically, the production control function involves the co- ordination and integration of the factors of production for optimum efficiency. Overall sales orders or plans must be translated into specific schedules and assigned so as to occupy all work centres but overload none. The job can be done formally in which case elaborate charting and filing techniques are used ; or it can be done informally, with individuals’ thoughts and retention there of supplanting tangible aids.”Charles A. Koepke: “Production planning and control is the coordination of a series of functions according to a plan which will economically utilize the plant facilities and regulate the orderly movement of goods through the entire manufacturing cycle, from the procurement of all materials to the shipping of finished goods at a predetermined rate.” Characteristics of Production Planning and Control: The forgoing discussion brings out the following traits of production planning and control: 1. It is the planning and control of manufacturing process in an enterprise. The questions like—What is to be manufactured? When it is to be manufactured? How to keep the schedule of production etc.? —are decided and acted upon for getting good results. 2. All types of inputs like materials, men, machines are efficiently used for maintaining efficiency of the manufacturing process. 3. Various factors of production are integrated to use them efficiently and economically. 4. The manufacturing process is organized in such a way that none of the work centres is either overworked or under worked. The division of work is undertaken very carefully so that every available element is properly utilized.5. The work is regulated from the first stage of procuring raw materials to the stage of finished goods. Objectives of Production Planning and Control: Planning of production precedes control. Whatever is planned needs to be controlled. The ultimate objective of both planning and control is to use various inputs in an efficient way and to have a proper control over various targets and schedules fixed earlier. The following details will bring out the objectives of production planning and production control: Production Planning: 1. To determine the requirements for men, materials and equipment. 2. Production of various inputs at a right time and in right quantity. 3. Making most economical use of various inputs. 4. Arranging production schedules according to the needs of marketing department. 5. Providing for adequate stocks for meeting contingencies. 6. Keeping up-to-date information processes.1. Making efforts to adhere to the production schedules. 2. Issuing necessary instructions to the staff for making the plans realistic, 3. To ensure that goods produced according to the prescribed standards and quality norms. 4. To ensure that various inputs are made available in right quantity and at proper time. 5. To ensure that work progresses according to the predecided plans.