Production Planning in GMP: A Balancing Act

Production scheduling and Planning in a GMP-compliant company is like juggling flaming torches!

you need precision, coordination, and maybe a little bit of luck (or coffee).

Having worked in both skincare manufacturing and now in food packaging, I’ve learned that keeping everything running smoothly, especially in a GMP field, is equal parts art, science, and teamwork.

Here’s what I’ve picked up along the way:

? Finite Scheduling: Think of it as Tetris for grown-ups. You fit the production pieces together while dodging bottlenecks, maintenance windows, and QA inspections. It’s oddly satisfying when it works!

? Quality Team Collaboration: The real MVPs of production. If you don’t work with them, your “perfectly planned schedule” will be about as useful as an umbrella in a hurricane.

? Deadlines, Deadlines: Let’s face it—if production schedules don’t meet due dates, chaos ensues. Customers want their orders yesterday!! Always! And we make sure to (try to) deliver on time.

? MTO vs. MTS: Balancing make-to-order and make-to-stock is like walking a tightrope.

Too much stock? Waste. Not enough? Panic.

ERP systems and data are the safety nets here!

With around eight years of experience in production planning and supply chain management, I’ve become obsessed with due dates and inventory levels. In my last role as a Manufacturing Planning Analyst, I wrangled schedules, ensured everything aligned, and occasionally whispered sweet nothings to ERP systems like MS Dynamics 365 to keep them on my side.

Experience with SAP, Dynamics and now Lx, has been a game-changer in managing these complexities. SAP’s Integrated Business Planning (IBP) solution for the supply chain has taken things to another level. It speeds up responsiveness and provides a strong foundation for S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning) with features like supply chain analytics, what-if simulations, alerts, etc.

It’s been instrumental in helping me plan for a sustainable, risk-resilient future while staying ahead of change.

It’s not all spreadsheets and stress, though!

There’s something incredibly satisfying about seeing a plan executed, especially when it means customers get what they need on time. Whether it’s scheduling or figuring out how to align inventory with demand, there’s nothing quite as rewarding as seeing it all come together.

:)

Each challenge has been an opportunity to grow, and I remain committed to delivering results with precision and purpose.

#ProductionScheduling #GMP #SupplyChainHumor #LeanManufacturing #ERPAdventures