Abstract: A production plan generating apparatus, and a method, are provided for generating production plans in sequential chronological order, from an ultimate downstream process in which a final product is produced, to all of the upstream processes required to produce components needed to make the final product. The apparatus includes an input device for inputting initial data including ultimate downstream process data, and a memory for storing the input data, machine data and process data, and a generator for generating a production plan for the final product, and upstream plans for the components and/or sub-components which are required in order to produce the final product.