Are you facing scheduling mix-ups, stock shortages, or production slowdowns? You’re not alone. That’s why businesses are using production planning software to counter these issues.
But why, though? It helps you take charge by automating scheduling, managing resources, and keeping inventory in check. The result? Fewer mistakes, faster operations, and a whole lot less stress.
With so many options out there, how do you pick the right one? You should check out HashMicro Production Planning Software, since not only is it capable for planning your entire production, it can also connect with all your machinery to monitor every stage of production effectively.
However, we know that every manufacturer has different needs. So, we also round up the top production planning software solutions in 2025, here are the shortlist.
- HashMicro: Best overall with AI-driven automation and real-time tracking.
- NetSuite: A cloud-based ERP with advanced production planning tools.
- Odoo: An open-source solution with flexible manufacturing workflows.
- Sage 100: Designed for small to mid-sized manufacturers needing inventory control.
- ClickUp: A project-based platform that automates tasks and enhances collaboration.
Key Takeaways
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Table of Contents
What is Production Planning Software
Production planning software is a tool designed to optimize the planning and scheduling of production activities. It automates processes, allocates resources efficiently, and coordinates tasks to ensure timely product delivery.
Mass production thrives with production planning software, which optimizes resources and schedules efficiently. Integrating mass production into a structured plan helps companies meet high demand smoothly, ensuring on-time delivery and maintaining consistent product quality.
Why Is Production Planning Software Important?
Production planning software plays a key role in controlling costs and adapting to market changes. By aligning production with real-time demand and resources, businesses can reduce waste, cut unnecessary expenses, and stay competitive.
A good planning system helps spot bottlenecks and improve resource use. With better visibility, teams can schedule smarter, boost output quality, and allocate materials and labor more effectively—enhancing overall productivity.
In today’s fast-moving manufacturing world, flexibility is essential. Planning tools support smooth workflows and quick responses to disruptions or demand spikes, ensuring timely delivery and scalable growth.
Benefits of Production Planning Software
By providing a clear production plan example, businesses can visualize and streamline their operations more effectively. Implementing production planning software can offer numerous benefits for businesses, including:
- Cost reduction: Optimizes the use of materials and machinery, leading to significant cost savings in production processes.
- Increased efficiency: Automates scheduling and resource allocation, reducing the time spent on planning.
- Enhanced accuracy: Using precise algorithms to manage production schedules and inventory minimizes human errors.
- Better inventory management: Provides real-time visibility into inventory levels, helping to prevent overstocking and stockouts.
- Scalability: Easily adjusts to changes in production volume and can accommodate growth without sacrificing performance.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction: Improves the ability to meet deadlines and enhances product quality, leading to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Compliance and traceability: Helps ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations and provides traceability throughout the production process.
Top 12 Production Planning Software
Choosing the right PPIC and scheduling software is crucial for optimizing manufacturing processes. Here are the top 12 production planning software solutions designed to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and productivity in your operations.
1. HashMicro
HashMicro Production Planning Software is a tool tailored for manufacturing operations, aimed at streamlining production workflows and improving efficiency. It automates scheduling, manages inventory, and coordinates resources to optimize the entire production process.
Moreover, HashMicro offers a free product tour and consultation, allowing potential users to explore their software firsthand and see how it can be tailored to your specific business needs. This no-obligation approach ensures that you make an informed decision with confidence.
Trusted by top-notch companies such as Forbes, Danone, and Dilmah, HashMicro has proven its ability to meet diverse business needs. These partnerships underscore HashMicro’s capacity to provide scalable, innovative solutions that drive efficiency and growth.
Features:
- Manufacturing Production Scheduling: This feature optimizes resource allocation and task scheduling to ensure efficient production flow. It enables precise timing and sequencing of manufacturing activities to meet production deadlines.
- Manufacturing Requisition Planning: The software manages and streamlines the procurement of raw materials based on production needs, ensuring materials are available when needed without overstocking or shortages.
- Forecasting Based on Demand History: HashMicro uses historical data to predict future demand, enabling manufacturers to adjust production levels proactively. This helps maintain optimal inventory levels and reduce costs.
- Secret Recipe / Bill of Materials (BoM): This feature centralizes and secures your manufacturing formulas or recipes. Detailing the specific materials and quantities ensures consistency in product quality and simplifies the production process.
- Made-to-Order Completion Forecast: This tool provides accurate predictions on project completion times for custom orders, allowing manufacturers to give reliable delivery estimates to customers and plan their production schedules accordingly.
- Manufacturing Quality Control: This feature helps identify and rectify defects early in the production process, ensuring that all products meet predetermined quality standards before reaching the customer.
- Finished Goods Production Simulation: HashMicro allows manufacturers to simulate the production process for finished goods, providing insights into potential bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
| Pros | Cons |
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Pricing: HashMicro offers customized pricing depending on the modules and business requirements, so you’ll need to contact their sales team for a quote.
Best for: Medium to large businesses in Southeast Asia looking for customizable, scalable ERP solutions including production planning and manufacturing automation.
2. NetSuite
NetSuite offers manufacturing production planning software to streamline production schedules and optimize resource allocation. The software automates the planning process, coordinates activities across departments, and ensures timely completion of production goals.
Features:
- Demand forecasting
- Production scheduling
- Multi-location inventory control
- Work order management
- Reporting and analytics
| Pros | Cons |
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Pricing: NetSuite starts at $999 per month for the base ERP package, with user licenses ranging from $50 to $200 per user per month, and optional modules like CRM or Inventory Management available for an additional $300–$800 per month.
Best for: Large enterprises needing a comprehensive cloud-based ERP with robust financials, supply chain, and production planning capabilities.
3. Odoo
Odoo offers production planning software to streamline and optimize manufacturing processes. It coordinates production schedules, manages material requirements, and tracks operations in real-time, ensuring efficient workflow and resource utilization.
Features:
- Master production schedule
- Real-time simulated operations
- Inventory management
- Bill of Materials (BoM) management
- Production analysis reports
| Pros | Cons |
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Pricing: Odoo provides a free plan for a single app, while the Standard plan costs $24.90 per user per month and the Custom plan costs $37.40 per user per month, both billed annually.
Best for: Small to medium-sized businesses seeking modular, open-source ERP software with affordable production planning and inventory management.
4. Sage 100
Sage 100 is production planning software designed for manufacturers to enhance efficiency through streamlined production and resource management. It automates task scheduling, optimizes material use, and ensures timely product deliveries.
Features:
- Inventory management
- Bill of Materials (BoM) management
- Work ticket tracking
- Material usage tracking
- Predictive analytics
| Pros | Cons |
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Pricing: Sage 100 pricing typically starts at around $45 per user per month, though actual costs vary depending on the selected modules and number of users.
Best for: Manufacturing and distribution businesses that need strong accounting features alongside production management.
5. ClickUp
ClickUp offers production planning software designed to optimize manufacturing processes. The software integrates tasks, resources, and schedules into a unified platform. It automates scheduling, tracks progress, and aligns operations with business goals for enhanced efficiency.
Features:
- Production scheduling
- Inventory management
- Quality control tracking
- Task management
- Reporting and analytics
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Pricing: ClickUp offers a free plan, with the Unlimited plan priced at $5 per user per month and the Business plan at $12 per user per month; Enterprise plans require a custom quote.
Best for: Teams needing a versatile, user-friendly project management tool that can be adapted for basic production planning and task scheduling.
6. Connecteam
Connecteam is a production planning software focused on simplifying complex production tasks and enhancing operational coordination. It integrates planning, scheduling, and execution, ensuring seamless communication and updates across all levels of production.
Features:
- Time tracking
- Staff scheduling
- Task management
- Attendance reporting
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Pricing: Connecteam has a free plan for up to 10 users, while its paid plans range from $29 to $99 per month for up to 30 users, with per-user charges for additional team members.
Best for: Small to mid-sized businesses looking to streamline operations, task management, and team communication on the go.
7. Fishbowl
Fishbowl Production Planning Software is designed for manufacturers seeking to optimize production processes and improve workflow efficiency. It integrates with inventory management, automates order processing, and coordinates manufacturing schedules to enhance productivity.
Features:
- Inventory tracking
- Shop floor control
- Barcode scanning
- Warehouse management
- Reporting and analytics
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Pricing: Fishbowl uses perpetual licensing, with base software starting at around $4,395; annual support and additional modules cost extra.
Best for: Manufacturing and warehouse-based businesses that want inventory and production management integrated with QuickBooks.
8. Katana
Katana offers manufacturing production planning software for real-time inventory management and workflow optimization. It integrates sales, inventory levels, and production processes in one platform, enabling seamless operation and decision-making.
Features:
- Live inventory management
- Purchase order management
- Production planning
- Shop floor control app
- Bill of Materials (BoM)
| Pros | Cons |
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Pricing: Katana pricing begins at $99 per month for the Essential plan, $299 for the Advanced plan, and $799 for the Professional plan, with custom pricing available for enterprise needs.
Best for: Small manufacturers and D2C brands needing real-time production, inventory, and order management in a visual interface.
9. Wrike
Wrike provides production planning software to enhance the efficiency of manufacturing workflows and integrate various production processes. The software offers tools for real-time collaboration, task management, and progress tracking to streamline production schedules.
Features:
- Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and project timelines
- Supply chain management
- Resource planning
- Pre-built manufacturing templates
| Pros | Cons |
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Pricing: Wrike offers a free version, while its paid plans start at $10 per user per month for the Team plan and $25 for the Business plan; enterprise options are custom priced.
Best for: Teams or organizations that need collaborative project management for production schedules, especially in marketing or operations.
10. Epicor Kinetic
Epicor Kinetic is manufacturing production planning software designed to optimize production processes and enhance operational efficiency. The software integrates real-time data analysis to streamline scheduling, manage resources, and adjust production plans dynamically.
Features:
- Production management
- Supply chain management
- Financial management
- Omnichannel sales
- Business intelligence and analytics
| Pros | Cons |
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Pricing: Epicor Kinetic generally starts at around $175 per user per month, with additional costs for implementation and customization based on the project scope.
Best for: Midsize to large manufacturers needing deep industry-specific functionality and robust production planning in a scalable ERP.
11. Infor LN
Infor LN is a production scheduling software designed for manufacturing industries, facilitating streamlined production processes. It integrates planning algorithms to schedule and optimize operations, manage resources effectively, and reduce downtime.
Features:
- Manufacturing execution systems (MES)
- Product lifecycle management
- Project management
- Bill of Materials (BoM)
- Capacity planning
| Pros | Cons |
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Pricing: Infor LN provides tailored pricing depending on deployment type, modules, and user count, and quotes are available through Infor or an authorized reseller.
Best for: Global manufacturing enterprises with complex operations and a need for industry-specific ERP capabilities and deep production planning.
12. MasterControl
MasterControl offers production planning software to optimize production processes by automating scheduling, resource allocation, and workflow management. The software integrates seamlessly with operations to coordinate tasks, manage inventory, and ensure timely delivery of products.
Features:
- Bill of Materials (BoM)
- Production scheduling
- Production records
- Quality control management
- Reporting and analytics
| Pros | Cons |
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Pricing: MasterControl pricing is also customized, typically starting at around $1,000 per user per month depending on the chosen solutions and features.
Best for: Regulated industries needing strong compliance, quality control, and document management in manufacturing
Key Features in Production Planning Software
Production planning software plays a crucial role in optimizing manufacturing operations. It ensures that resources are effectively utilized, production processes are streamlined, and customer demands are met with precision. Below are the top features to look for when choosing a reliable production planning tools:
1. Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
MRP is essential for managing your raw materials and components. It calculates the materials needed, their quantities, and when they are required to ensure timely production. By aligning procurement with production schedules, MRP helps reduce excess inventory, minimize waste, and avoid material shortages that could halt operations.
2. Resource Utilization Planning
This feature allows manufacturers to evaluate the availability and utilization of critical resources like labor, equipment, and machinery. It helps in identifying capacity constraints, balancing workloads, and reallocating resources efficiently to avoid bottlenecks and ensure steady production flow.
3. Manufacturing Sequencing
Manufacturing sequencing arranges task in the most effective order to optimize time and reduce downtime. It considers dependencies, setup times, and priorities to ensure that each production step follows logically, improving overall workflow efficiency and reducing lead times.
4. Stock Management
Stock Management tools help you maintain optimal stock levels of raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods. With real-time monitoring, you can prevent overstocking or stockouts, enabling uninterrupted production and reducing carrying costs.
5. Demand Forecasting
This feature analyzes historical sales data, seasonal trends, and market behavior to predict future demand. Accurate demand forecasting enables proactive production planning, ensuring that you meet customer needs without overproducing.
6. Situation Assessment
Situation assessment enables you to examine various manufacturing situations – such as equipment failure, demand spikes, or supply delays—and evaluate their impact. This helps in creating contingency plans, making strategic decisions, and improving your readiness for real-world challenges.
7. Customer Order Handling
Customer order handling tracks customer orders through each stage—from receipt to delivery. It ensures timely order fulfillment, improves visibility across departments, reduces errors, and enhances customer satisfaction through better service and reliability.
How to Choose the Best Production Planning Software
Choosing the best production planning software is a critical decision that can significantly impact manufacturing efficiency and overall business success. To help you navigate this choice, we’ve outlined several factors to consider:
- Consider user-friendliness: Look for software that offers intuitive navigation, customizable dashboards, and straightforward data entry. Involving end-users during the evaluation process can help gauge their comfort level with the software.
- Evaluate software features: Look for comprehensive production scheduling tools. Additionally, ensure that the software includes robust inventory management capabilities to manage stock levels efficiently.
- Assess flexibility and customization: Production processes vary across industries and businesses. Choose a production planning software that allows customization to match your unique workflows.
- Check integration capabilities: Ensure the software integrates seamlessly with other business functions, such as inventory management, procurement, and finance. A well-connected ecosystem enhances overall efficiency.
- Evaluate support and training: Consider the vendor’s support services. Is there 24/7 customer support? Are training resources available? Adequate training ensures your team can maximize the software’s capabilities and troubleshoot effectively.
- Read reviews and seek recommendations: Research online reviews and seek recommendations from industry peers. Learn about real-world experiences with the software, both positive and negative. Honest feedback can guide your decision.
By following these steps, you can confidently choose the production planning software that will enhance your operations, boost productivity, and drive your business forward. Making an informed decision now will increase efficiency and growth in the long run.
Conclusion
Choosing the best production planning software is crucial for optimizing manufacturing operations and ensuring seamless workflow. Adequate software can streamline scheduling, enhance inventory management, and improve efficiency.
HashMicro Production Planning Software is designed to meet these needs, offering robust features that cater to various manufacturing challenges. The software provides advanced scheduling, demand forecasting, and comprehensive quality control in one user-friendly platform.
Take advantage of HashMicro’s free demo today to experience the benefits firsthand. This hands-on experience allows you to explore the software’s capabilities and see how it can transform your manufacturing operations.
FAQ
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What software is used for production?
Many businesses use HashMicro Production Planning Software to streamline manufacturing processes. It offers AI-driven automation, real-time inventory tracking, and seamless scheduling to optimize production efficiency and reduce operational costs.
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What is production planning?
Production planning is the process of organizing and managing the resources, schedules, and tasks required to produce goods efficiently. It works by coordinating materials, labor, and equipment to ensure that production meets demand while minimizing waste and delays.
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What are the tools of production planning?
AI and machine learning can process large data sets, identify trends, and provide accurate forecasts. Using these technologies, businesses can improve production plans, boost efficiency, and quickly adjust to market changes.
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What is PLM in planning?
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is a strategic approach to overseeing a product’s journey from concept and design through development, production, service, and disposal. It ensures efficient management of each stage, integrating people, processes, and information to enhance coordination, reduce costs, and improve quality.
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What is manufacturing ERP software?
Manufacturing ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is software that helps manufacturing businesses plan, manage, and support their operations by integrating production scheduling, inventory management, procurement, and quality control into a single system.
