Dispatching - Production Control
The function of routing and scheduling as discussed above are paperwork only. No actual production has yet been started. Dispatching is the part of production control that translates the paper work into actual production in accordance with the details worked out under routing and scheduling functions .
Dispatching deals with setting the production activities in motion through the release of orders and instructions in accordance with previously planned timings as embodied in production schedules.
James L. Landy has defined dispatching as the dispatching function involves the actual granting of permission to proceed according to plan already laid down. This is similar in the case of traveller to his employer finally approving his vacation leave.
According to Spriegal and Lansburg "Dispatching involves the meeting of schedules by proper utilization of machines work places materials and workers as designed by the routing. The dispatching unit to the planning department thus includes all persons whose duty is to see that orders are issued to the shop that materials are at the work place that tools are provided that job cards are issued and in general all necessary steps are taken to ensure that the schedules will be properly carried out.