Production control systems: Literature review, classification, and insights regarding practical application

This paper was a review of the literature regarding production control systems (PCS). A classification method based on four categories (order-controlled, stock level-controlled (SLC), flow-scheduled (FS), and hybrid systems) was proposed and used to classify the twenty different systems found in the review. A brief summary of each system was presented, showing the functioning logic and insights with regard to the practical application of each. Some insights arise from this study: (i) the majority of the PCS reviewed are designed for a repetitive, flow shop environment; (ii) the main field of application of all SLC systems is the flow shop, repetitive environment; (iii) in general, the FS systems are more adequate to a non-repetitive environment than are the SLC systems; (iv) hybrid systems constitute a promising field of research regarding the practical application of SCO in job shops and non-repetitive environments.