Running a business without a plan is like setting off on a long road trip without a map, a fuel gauge, or any idea when you need to arrive. Planning and control systems are the dashboard that keep a business moving smoothly – they match supply to demand, decide what to make and when, and correct the course when things drift off track. In this chapter we will build that dashboard from scratch, so you can see how everything from a monthly sales forecast all the way down to a shop‑floor work order fits together.