Master Production Schedule
What is a Master Production Schedule?
The master production schedule (MPS) is created with master production scheduling software and drives the detailed scheduling & sequencing processes at manufacturing companies by specifying:
- what items to produce
- the number of items to produce
- when to produce those items and associated due dates
This important output of the production planning process specifies what is going to be produced and over what extended time horizon, typically 3 to 18 months.
The master schedule allows manufacturers to figure out what raw materials and parts will be required and supports the following processes:
- production scheduling
- materials requirements planning (MRP)
- inventory management
- enterprise resource planning (ERP)
The master production schedule is produced by an advanced planning and scheduling system, a production management system that integrates with the manufacturing execution system (MES) and enterprise resource planning system. The APS system provides the constraint-based supply chain planning functionality and optimization that these production systems lack.
What Are The Benefits Of Having a Master Production Schedule?
A master production schedule is the cornerstone of all supply chain operations processes. For example an optimized master schedule allows you to:
- Accurately assess your production capabilities through the capacity planning process.
- Improve the utilization of your equipment and the efficiency of your overall operations.
- Maintain production schedule stability
- Reduce production costs by deploying your workforce more efficiently
- Maximize profits and customer satisfaction by creating feasible schedules and fulfill purchase orders on time.
You will also be able to optimize and monitor your production processes more effectively. This is because you will have a better comprehension of production runs and demands.
You will be in a better position to establish your inventory level since you have an overview of the demands of production. Additionally, it is possible for your human resource department to assess and find the items required before the production process begins. Of great importance still, the master production schedule helps to estimate the required labor to run the production processes required.
Master Production Scheduler
With a master production scheduler, you’re able to streamline the production processes of your business. A master production scheduler has significant responsibilities in regard to production. In a manufacturing environment, a master production scheduler ensures the completion of specific tasks including planning, monitoring, and coordinating products through the entire production cycle.
It’s important to take note that a production scheduler should know the difference between the master production schedule and production plan in order to have effective production systems.
Master Production Scheduling Software
The master production schedule is generated by an advanced planning and scheduling system. And if you are an enterprise manufacturer with a complex production environment you need an APS system that can fully model your production environment, consider all possible solutions, and arrive at the best master production schedule quickly. A fast but inaccurate heuristic-based system will not work. Neither will an optimization-based system that takes hours to generate a schedule. You need both speed and accuracy. That is why Optessa has developed patented Fast Optimization technology and is the master production scheduling solution of choice for hundreds of Fortune 100 factories globally. Contact us today for a free demo.
