What is a PPS System?
A PPS system refers to software used for planning, managing, and monitoring production processes within a company. The acronym PPS stands for Production Planning and Control System.
The primary goal of a PPS system is to coordinate material flows, resources (such as machines and personnel), and schedules in the most efficient way possible to ensure smooth production operations.
PPS systems are often integrated into broader ERP systems (Enterprise Resource Planning). In this setup, they enable holistic business management. Well-known ERP providers that offer integrated PPS functionalities include SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, and Oracle.
A PPS system typically covers the following planning and control tasks:
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Demand Planning (Determining the need for finished products)
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Material Requirements Planning (MRP) (Calculating raw material and component needs based on product demand)
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Capacity Planning (Assessing whether existing resources can meet production demands)
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Production Control (Monitoring and managing shop floor processes)
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Scheduling and Sequencing (Optimizing production order and timing)
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Inventory Management (Warehouse control, procurement, and inventory planning)
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Production Data Collection (Capturing actual production data – see also: Shop Floor Data Collection / SFDC)
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