Types of Production Planning for Indian Factories
Production planning is one of the core pillars of any manufacturing business. What most businesses don’t realize is that production planning has multiple types, each designed for different manufacturing needs, order styles, and workflows. Choosing the right method not only improves efficiency but also ensures better inventory utilization, minimal wastage, and maximum production output.
In this guide, we’ll explore the different types of production planning, how they work, and how DOTONE ERP helps modern manufacturers automate the entire process with Vision AI, automated workflows, and real-time production tracking.
What Is Production Planning?
Production planning is the structured process of planning, organizing, and optimizing a company’s manufacturing activities. It ensures that machines, materials, and manpower are used effectively to meet customer demand.
A well-planned production strategy helps manufacturers:
Improve equipment and workforce utilization
Maintain optimal inventory levels
Identify delays and workflow bottlenecks
Reduce raw material wastage
Set accurate reorder points
Ensure workers and machinery are not overloaded
DOTONE ERP enhances these processes using AI-driven forecasting, automated job routing, live production tracking, and digitally connected work centers.
5 Main Types of Production Planning
Here are the five most widely used production planning methods across manufacturing units:
1. Job-Based Production
Also known as project-based production, this method focuses on manufacturing a single, highly customized product at a time. A single machine or worker completes most of the work.
Best for:
Custom manufacturing
Precision tools
Prototypes
Unique product orders
With DOTONE ERP, manufacturers can create job cards, allocate resources, and track job-level performance with real-time dashboards.
2. Batch Production Planning
Batch production is ideal for businesses that manufacture items in batches or groups. Raw materials are processed in predefined quantities to avoid bottlenecks and reduce wastage.
Benefits:
Efficient utilization of material
Better quality control
Flexible switching between product variants
DOTONE automatically tracks batch-wise consumption, WIP movement, and multi-level BOM for accurate cost calculations.
3. Flow Production Planning
Flow production (also called continuous flow) produces goods only when customer demand exists, making it demand-driven.
Used in:
Consumer electronics
Household appliances
Packaged goods
Flow manufacturing reduces lead time by minimizing WIP and finished stock. DOTONE monitors each work center’s output and alerts teams if any stage slows down.
4. Mass Production Planning
Mass production is a highly automated method used to produce large quantities of standardized products. Work is divided into small tasks along an assembly line.
Benefits:
Quick output
High scalability
Lower labor cost per unit
DOTONE ERP supports real-time assembly tracking, line balancing, and quality checks across each stage.
5. Process Production Planning
This method is similar to mass and flow production but is used for industries where products are created through chemical, thermal, or mechanical processes.
Common in:
Food processing
Chemical manufacturing
Paint & coating industries
This method often produces by-products and waste, which DOTONE tracks with waste logs, scrap percentage analytics, and cost impact reports.
How DOTONE ERP Boosts Production Efficiency
DOTONE ERP increases production efficiency through:
✔ Vision AI-based productivity tracking
✔ Real-time machine monitoring
✔ Multi-level BOM automation
✔ Auto-routing & job scheduling
✔ Accurate demand forecasting
✔ Integrated inventory & procurement
✔ Resource load balancing
✔ AI-powered quality checks
Production Planning vs. Production Scheduling
Although both processes are critical, they serve different purposes:
Production Planning
Focuses on what to produce
Based on MRP-planned and fixed orders
Higher-level, long-term focus
Uses demand forecasts and production capacity
Production Scheduling
Focuses on when to produce it
Minimizes stockouts & delays
Balances supply chain inputs and outputs
Ensures orders meet delivery timelines
DOTONE ERP handles both automatically — generating schedules from plans using your real-time production load.
Production Planning Process (Step-by-Step)
Every production plan follows these core steps:
1. Set Production Targets
Identify stages that cause delays or require optimization.
2. Determine Production Capacity
Analyze machine availability, resource load, and workforce strength.
3. Forecast Demand
Use past trends, market data, and AI forecasting to determine required production volume.
DOTONE ERP automates all three steps using real-time analytics and historical data patterns.
Example: Flow Production in Automotive Manufacturing
A car manufacturer uses flow production to assemble standardized models efficiently:
Historical sales data + Vision AI demand forecasting
Production schedule planned at 10 cars/week
Raw materials, workers, and machine time allocated
Workflow optimized to remove bottlenecks
QC checks at each stage ensure consistency
Real-time sensors track assembly line data
Adjustments made automatically when demand increases
DOTONE ERP provides live dashboards, workflow automation, and alerts to maintain consistent production quality.
5 Steps to Create a Production Plan
Forecast product demand
Define production steps
Select the right planning method
Monitor progress in real time
Adjust plans when issues arise
DOTONE ERP automates each stage using rule-based workflows and real-time shop floor updates.
Production Planning Techniques
✔ Production Scheduling
Defines when each product will be made and in what quantity.
✔ Material Planning
Ensures raw materials are available at the right time without overstocking. DOTONE supports MRP, reorder levels, and supplier lead times.
✔ Just-In-Time (JIT)
Reduces waste and improves responsiveness by manufacturing only when needed.
DOTONE ERP enables JIT by syncing procurement, production, and inventory in real time.
Tips for Effective Production Planning
1. Monitor the Process
Use dashboards to track performance, delays, and machine efficiency.
2. Use the Right Tool (ERP)
Manual planning fails at scale. DOTONE provides centralized planning with AI-driven insights.
3. Research Costs & Estimates
Know the time, cost, and resources needed for each job.
4. Consider Employee Workload
Avoid overburdening workers. DOTONE’s workload heatmaps help balance manpower.
5. Hire Skilled Workers
Experienced operators reduce error rates and increase overall output.
Boost Your Production Planning with DOTONE ERP
Managing production manually is slow, inefficient, and often inaccurate. DOTONE ERP makes production planning fully automated with:
Vision AI-powered tracking
Centralized production dashboards
Automated scheduling & routing
Real-time WIP monitoring
Smart material planning
AI forecasting
Zero manual paperwork
DOTONE helps modern manufacturers maintain consistent output, reduce delays, and maximize profitability.
