Overview of production management
Management: is the process of allocating the organization's inputs- human and economic resources, through planning, organizing, and controlling for the customer's needs so that organizational objectives are accomplished.
Production:it is seen by classical economists, as the process of coordinating materials, people, machines, and money to create finished goods.
Production management is all about the transformation of production and operational inputs into outputs, that when distributed meet the needs of customers.
Characteristics of a production system
Production is an organized activity, so every production system has an objective.
The system transforms the various inputs into useful outputs
It does not exist in isolation from the other organization systems.
There exists feedback about the activities which is essential to control and improve system performance.
Scope of the production function
Location of facilities.
Plant layouts and materials handling.
Product design.
Process design.
Production and planning control.
Quality control.
Materials management.
Maintenance management.
Functions of production management
Selection of materials: it selects appropriate materials for the product.
Finding methods: this involves finding the best method for the process, searching for methods to suit the available resources, and identifying the sequence of the process.
Selection of machines and equipment: selection of suitable machinery for the process desired, designing the maintenance policy and layout of machines.
Estimating: it does a thorough estimation of production time and costs to meet up production targets and delivery dates and keep production costs at a minimum.
Loading and scheduling: it draws the timetable for various production activities, specifying when to start and when to finish the process required.
Routing: This consists of fixing the flow lines for various raw materials from the stores to the packaging of the finished so that all concerned know what exactly is happening on the shop floor.
Dispatching: this has to prepare various documents such as job cards route sheets, move cards, and inspection cards for every component of the production.
Expediting or follow-up: once the documents are dispatched, the management wants to know whether the activities are being carried out as planned or not.
Inspection: this is usually done by the quality control team.
Evaluation: the production department must evaluate itself and its contribution to fulfilling the corporate and department objective.
Summary
Its concern with planning, designing, controlling, and management of all facets of production activities necessary for the effective and efficient transformation of raw materials into goods and services for the achievement of the organizational objectives and astisfying societal needs.