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AQA A-level Design & Technology / Product Design⌕ Search notes
AQA 7552   /   3.1.7

Production planning and control.

Digital design and manufacture · Technical principles

Revision notes

MPS software integrates and coordinates PPC functions.

Electronic point of sale (EPOS)

EPOS systems use barcode scanning to collect sales data.

Automates stock monitoring and reordering

Collects customer data for marketing

Supports product life-cycle decisions

Production, planning and control (PPC) networking (A-level only)

PPC networking coordinates production planning, material flow, and supply chain communication. An effective supply chain network (SCN) is essential for Just-in-Time (JiT) manufacturing.

Master production schedule (MPS)

Materials control

Triggers supplier orders and manages inventory

Ensures components arrive only when needed

Uses Kanban, barcodes, and RFID tracking

Enables real-time monitoring of components and products

Scheduling

Plans machine usage and production timings

Coordinates availability of skilled labour

Enables rapid reconfiguration of FMS cells to meet demand

Supplier and customer coordination

Links with EPOS to automatically transmit JiT manufacturing requirements

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