Production control involves monitoring and controlling the production process to ensure that it operates within predetermined limits. It involves several key elements, including:
The book introduces complex algorithms and quantitative methods for inventory management, moving beyond simple Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) models to more complex Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and Just-In-Time (JIT) methodologies. The authors argue that control is about variance management. When actual production deviates from the plan—due to machine failure, quality issues, or fluctuating demand—the control systems described in the book provide the mechanisms to detect these variances and implement corrective actions. This perspective shifts the view of production from a static linear process to a dynamic cybernetic system.
The textbook provides a solid treatment of single-machine, parallel-machine, and flow/ job shop scheduling. Key algorithms (e.g., Johnson’s rule, Smith’s rule, the shifting bottleneck heuristic) are explained with practical examples. Importantly, they tie scheduling performance (makespan, tardiness, WIP) back to higher-level planning decisions.