The Master Production Schedule is an important tool for managers to keep the workflow running continuously in manufacturing. Here's how it works!
What is a Master Production Schedule?
The Master Production Schedule (MPS) is a document in which we detail everything that will be manufactured within a given period, always respecting production capacity and the delivery deadlines agreed between the company and its customers.
- Quantity of items to be manufactured;
- When production should take place;
- What will be produced;
- Which people will be involved in the processes;
- Required resources and raw materials;
- Delivery deadlines and production targets.
These are just some of the data points that should appear in a good MPS.
Why is the Master Production Schedule important?
Anyone who works in industrial management knows that operations inside a factory are complex. Coordination between departments, resource optimization, meeting deadlines, and product quality are just some of the challenges faced daily.
Controlling everything that happens in the factory is decisive to ensure production runs without interruptions and, in the end, the product meets the quality standards expected before it is delivered to the customer.
By providing a clear, detailed view of everything the plant needs to manufacture its items, the Master Production Schedule supports that goal (ensuring uninterrupted production) and also contributes to:
- Waste prevention;
- Resource optimization;
- Aligning production with market demand;
- Issuing Production Orders (POs).
How to build a Master Production Schedule
Now that we understand what the Master Production Schedule is and why it matters, let's explore the steps you need to follow to put together a good plan.
Understanding demand
The first step is to get a clear reading of what the market expects. To do that, you will need to analyze sales forecasts, review the contracts signed with customers, and measure consumption expectations for the period in question.
With this information, you can define which products will be manufactured and in what quantity, adjusting production to avoid both overproduction and product shortages.
Assessing production capacity
After mapping demand, it's time to check whether your factory has the capacity to meet those requirements. Here, you should consider the number of machines, staff, work shifts, and the space available to store what will be produced.
This assessment will help you fine-tune the plan and also identify whether the factory's capacity needs to be expanded or whether production is balanced with the resources in stock.
Aligning resources
After assessing production capacity, you will have to make sure that all the resources needed to manufacture the products are ready. These resources range from raw materials and equipment to specific inputs that will be used in the process.
Doing this will help you avoid setbacks such as material shortages.
Creating a schedule
After aligning resources, you should create a schedule that specifies when each stage of production will take place. This planning will give you a more complete view of deadlines, helping you optimize production time and prevent delays.
Assigning the team
Besides planning production, you will also need to organize the team that will be responsible for each stage of the process. The recommendation here is that these employees know how the entire workflow operates and already have experience in the activity to be performed.
Monitoring the workflow
The Master Production Schedule is not an immutable, error-free document. That's why it is important for every manager to closely track the results obtained through the plan and adjust the data whenever new demands or challenges arise.
Problems related to the supply of inputs, market changes, or even operational failures may require you to make quick changes to your plan.
READ ALSO | Production planning and control (PCP): what it is and how to implement it in manufacturing
"Is there a way to simplify the plan?" Yes! With an ERP!
An ERP is an integrated management system that gathers all of the company's important data on a single platform, from financial information to inventory and production control.
This means that instead of filling out the Master Production Schedule manually, you can simply access the tool and have all the information you need to build your document at your fingertips.
You can, for example:
- Check inventory to see the quantity of materials available;
- Calculate purchasing needs based on your production orders;
- Review machine scheduling and production capacity;
- Route your production;
- Track order progress and demand;
- Review your teams' shop floor entries;
- Analyze your factory's productivity.
An important point worth mentioning here is that all data in the ERP is updated in real time thanks to process automation. In other words, you are guaranteed that the information used in the plan will always be accurate and highly reliable.
Want to know more about how technology can help with production planning? Get to know the Useall ERP and the advantages of the PCP module!
Originally published in Portuguese at useall.com.br.