Executing Production

Planning defines what should happen.
Execution defines what actually happens.

Executing production means turning planned Production Items into real production output.
This is the point where production lines start working and production data is created.

This page explains:

• what happens when production starts,

• how Production Items move through execution,

• how planning and execution are connected.

What does “execution” mean in P4?

Production execution is the process where:

• a Production Line starts working on Production Items,

• Production Item statuses change based on real progress,

• production performance data is collected.

Execution always happens on a Production Line, not on an Outbound Delivery and not directly on planning data.

Planning answers “What should be produced?”
Execution answers “What is being produced right now?”

Starting production on a line

Production starts when a Production Line begins processing its queue.

When production is started:

• the Production Line switches to an active state,

• the first Production Item in the queue enters execution,

• planned production becomes real production.

From this moment:

• changes in execution affect timing and performance,

• planning assumptions are confronted with reality.

Production Item lifecycle during execution

Each Production Item progresses through execution states.

Typically:

• Assigned → producing → finished

During execution:

• production time is recorded,

• quantities are confirmed,

• performance indicators are calculated.

Execution updates Production Items, not Outbound Deliveries.
Outbound Deliveries are updated indirectly through their Production Items.

Planned vs. actual production

It is normal for execution to differ from the plan.

Differences may come from:

• machine speed,

• material availability,

• operator actions,

• unexpected stops or delays.

P4 does not hide these differences.
Instead, it captures them as actual production data.

This data is later used for:

• reporting,

• performance analysis,

• continuous improvement.

Interaction between planners and operators

Execution creates a natural boundary between roles.

• Planners

  • create and adjust the plan,

  • monitor progress,

  • react to deviations.

• Operators

  • execute production,

  • confirm progress,

  • work with the current queue.

Both roles work with the same Production Items, but from different perspectives.

What happens when execution stops or changes

Production execution can be:

• paused,

• resumed,

• or adjusted based on real conditions.

When execution changes:

• Production Item status reflects the current state,

• planned finish times may no longer be valid,

• replanning may be required.

This is expected behavior and part of normal production control.

Common first execution issues

• Production does not start as expected
  This usually means the line is not ready or required data is missing.

• Planned times are no longer realistic
  This is normal once execution begins. Also initial tact time definition might be adjusted accordingly to the reality.

These issues typically disappear once the execution model is understood.

What you should be able to do now

After completing this step, you should:

• understand how production execution works in P4,

• know the difference between planned and actual production,

• understand how Production Item status reflects real progress,

• be ready to evaluate production results.

➡ Next step:
Monitoring and Reporting: Understanding Production Results

This is where production execution turns into insight.