ERP & MRP Planning worked example

Planned vs Actual Production with actual good production output of 4,700 units: a worked example

This scenario runs the planned vs actual production calculation on the strong side: actual good production output of 4,700 units, with every other input held at its documented default. an operations manager needs to explain whether production beat or missed plan

The inputs for this scenario

  • Actual good production output: 4,700 units (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 1,880)
  • Planned production output: 2,000 units (unchanged)
  • Planned output reference: 2,000 units (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Production variance = actual good output - planned output) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 135 % for production variance percent, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 2,700 units for production variance quantity.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 4,700 units for actual good production output.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 2,000 units for planned production output.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where actual good production output sits at 1,880 units and the headline result is -6 %, this scenario comes in 2,350% above the baseline at 135 %.
  • Use it at shift or order close to quantify production shortfalls or overbuilds against the plan. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Production variance percent: 135 % (headline result)
  • Production variance quantity: 2,700 units
  • Actual good production output: 4,700 units
  • Planned production output: 2,000 units

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Planned vs Actual Production calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.