1. An automated production dispatch system for implementation on a computer, said system providing for the dispatch information for a manufacturing environment to aid a user to make decisions that will improve the dispatch process, comprising the steps of: monitoring production release and dispatch orders generated by a production planning process; simulating the manufacturing environment subject to a production disruption based on defined management dispatch criteria to generate an estimate of order tardiness, work-in-process inventory and cycle time; and testing the estimate to determine if the estimate is acceptable according to predefined criteria.