The chemical industry creates an immense variety of products which impinge on virtually every aspect of our lives. With increasing competition worldwide, innovation remains crucial in finding new ways for the industry to satisfy its increasingly sophisticated, demanding and environmentally-conscious consumers. The production planning group is responsible for preparing a production schedule and ensuring that all of the prerequisites for manufacturing and production are met in an efficient, cost-effective manner. Prerequisites could include raw materials, parts or components, staff, production floor space and equipment. The production planning function works closely with (and may overlap) the procurement and materials management groups to facilitate efficient production scheduling and execution.

They also coordinate preventative maintenance and develop equipment repair procedures to minimize delays in the production, and ensure that the manufacturing process and machinery are in compliance with customer expectations and industry standards. The manufacturing and assembly function is responsible for the creation of finished goods and/or products. Manufacturing methods depend on the product being created, corporate strategy and consumer demand. Possible production methods include just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing, lean manufacturing, agile manufacturing or mass-customization.

The facility management function is responsible for regulating the quality, safety and cost of facilities used in the manufacturing of goods or products. They work to improve facility quality and mitigate safety-related and regulatory risks. They are responsible for facility security, worker safety, routine facility maintenance, facility climate control, utilities cost, efficient production floor space usage and layout, and other environmental factors.