Abstract Today's highly dynamic market with its rapid changing demand requires highly dynamic order processing in very flexible production systems. Most conventional production planning and control methods do not support such fast-moving activities. A dynamical approach is introduced for modelling and control of production systems. It was developed from concepts of the Nonlinear Dynamics Theory. Manufacturing processes as well as planning and control mechanisms are seen as one unit toward the establishment of a dynamical system. The dynamical approach includes an analysis of the dynamic behaviour of the production system as well as the control of the manufacturing process by a continuous adjustment because of changes or disturbances in the environment or in the production system itself.