Production planning is the process of strategically organizing and scheduling manufacturing resources to ensure optimal efficiency and productivity in producing goods or services. This includes determining the quantity of products to be manufactured, the timing of production runs, and the allocation of resources such as labor, materials, and equipment. The goal of production planning is to minimize costs, maximize output, and meet customer demand in a timely manner. This area of research often involves mathematical modeling, simulation, and optimization techniques to improve decision-making and resource allocation in production processes.