Production Control Functions: Dispatching, Progressing, Inspection & Corrective Action

The objectives of production control are:

·         To coordinate, monitor and feedback the results of the production activities.

·         To analyze and interpreting the production developments and taking corrective action if necessary.

The Production Control functions are:

 1.       Dispatching:

Dispatching is the process of issuing of orders and instructions according to the previously planned routing and scheduling to set up production activities in motion.

Dispatching is an initiation function to start the work on the shop floors.

Dispatching confirms that schedules and machine loading charts are properly implemented as per the plans.

 Functions of Dispatching:

•          Authorizing the production department to start the work as per schedule by issuing shop orders or job cards to the production department.

•          To collect tools and fixtures from tool stores and raw materials from raw material stores and to issue them to the concerted work sections.

•          To distribute specifications, drawing, and route cards, process plans to the work centers.

 Centralized dispatching and Decentralized dispatching.

In centralized dispatching, a central dispatching department distributes production orders directly to the work centers.

 In the decentralized dispatching system, the respective shop supervisor does the dispatching function. He loads the machine as per the schedule and confirms that jobs are finished in the permitted time.

 2.       Progressing / Follow up

 Progressing is the process of ensuring that the work is executed as per the plan and the delivery dates for the finished products can be achieved.

The main objective of progressing function is to control deviations from the plans for execution of the work and to manage effectively any delays which comes unexpectedly during the process.

 Progressing function is important to manage with following situations:

-          Delay in the supply of raw materials to the production shops

-          Excessive absenteeism of workers

-          Changes in design specifications and route cards or process plans.

-          Changes in delivery schedule

-          Break down of machine tools and equipment.

-          Errors in design drawings and process plans.

 3.       Inspection:

Inspection is an appraisal technique that compares goods or services to the fixed standard.

 Inspection can occur at 3 stages:

1.       Before production: to make sure inputs are acceptable.

2.       During production: to make sure the conversion of inputs into outputs is proceeding in an acceptable manner.

3.       After production - to make final verification of goods.

Major Inspection Decisions:

-          What to inspect

-          How much to inspect.

-          How often to inspect?

-          Whether to inspect attributes or variables?

4.       Evaluation and Corrective Action

Evaluation is the process of examining mistakes or defects in the production functions and removing these errors by implementing necessary corrective actions.

Statistical Quality Control charts are used for expressing the number of defects and defectives in the production function.

Corrective action may suggest re-engineering the production process and restructuring the production functions.