Production and Control: it’s Meaning and Objectives

Meaning:Production planning cannot be properly ac system of production

control. Production control is primarily concerned with orderly flow

of materials in the manufacturing process from the beginning (raw

state) to the end (the finished products). The following definitions

clearly explain the meaning of production control.

“Production control is the process of planning production in

advance of operations, establishing the exact route of each

individual item, part or assembly, setting, starting and finishing

dates for each important item, assembly of finished products and

releasing the necessary orders as well as initiating the required

follow up to effectuate the smooth functioning of an enterprise”

—Spriegel and Lansburgh.

“Production control refers to ensuring that all which occurs in

accordance with the rules established and instructions issued”

—Henry Fayol

“Production control is concerned with the observation of current

happenings, their recording and continuous comparison with the

planned production programme. Deviations from the established

routine are reported promptly to the person with requisite

authority and responsibility for remedial corrective action. ”

—Al ford and Beatty

“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 centers

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

individual’s thoughts and retention thereof supplanting tangible

aids.”

—James C. Lundy

“Production control is a system whereby there is achieved a smooth

and coordinated flow of work within the factory so that, by planning

and control of all the productive operations in ail the stages of

manufacture, the final product is completed in accordance with the

plans. ”

—F.J. Wright

From the above mentioned definitions it is clear that production

control is primarily concerned with successful implementation of

production planning. It aims at completing production well in time

and also with lesser costs. A proper system of production control

ensures continuous production, lesser work-in-progress and

minimisation of wastages.

Objectives of Production Control:1. To ensure maximum utilisation of available resources thereby

achieving lesser cost of production.

2. To undertake the best and most economic production policies.

3. To make adequate arrangements for uninterrupted production by

keeping in view future obstacles in carrying production operations.

4. To introduce a proper system of quality control.

5. To ensure rapid turnover of production by minimising inventories

of raw materials and finished products.

Kimball and Kimball Jr. have rightly emphasised these objectives by

pointing out “that the product shall be produced in the best and the

cheapest method, that it shall be of the required quality and that it

shall be produced at the right time.

It has been rightly pointed out that production control acts as the

brain and nervous system of the plant (as a coordinating agency);

to coordinate the work of engineering, purchasing, production,

selling and inventory management.

It is a profitable investment and not an expense or a waste. The

principal objective of production control is to facilitate the process

of manufacturing and to see that everything is being performed

strictly in accordance with the plan.

Production Planning and Control:It may be pointed out here that the words production planning and

production control are interconnected and synonymous in nature

and are used interchangeably in practical situations, as such these

can be studied as ‘Production Planning and Control’, Production

planning and control is concerned with preparation of production

budget, arrangement of machinery, equipment and materials for

work, layout of plant and preparing estimates with regard to

labour, routing, scheduling, despatching and follow-up operations.

A few definitions of production planning and control are given as

under which clearly explain its meaning.

“Production planning and control comprise the planning, routing,

scheduling, dispatching and follow up functions in the productive

process, so organised that the movements of material, performance

of machines and operations of labour, however sub-divided, are

directed and coordinated as to quality, quantity, time and place. It

is adopting as a business principle of the old age, ‘plan your work

and work your plan’.

—Alford & Beatty

“Production planning and control may be defined as the co-

ordination of a series of functions according to a plan which will

economically utilize the plant facilities and regulate the orderly

movement of goods through their entire manufacturing cycle, from

the procurement of all materials to the shipping of finished goods

at a predetermined rate. ”

—Charles A. Koepke

“Production planning and control involves generally the

organization and planning of the manufacturing process.

Specifically, it consists of the planning, routing, scheduling,

despatching and inspection, coordination 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, quality, time and place”.

—Gorden B. Carson

From the above mentioned definitions it is clear that production

planning and control is concerned with deciding in advance how

much will be produced during a particular period of time. In other

words it is concerned with when, how much, by whom and where

production will be carried.

It is a blue print which is prepared right in advance of actual

operations. On the other hand, production control is concerned

with initiating various checks and measures in order to evaluate

and compare actual results with the anticipated or predetermined

targets.