There is described a method for controlled production of security documents, especially banknotes, wherein said security documents are subjected to a plurality of successive printing and processing operations (20.1, 20.2, ...) on a plurality of processing stations. The method comprises the steps of : (i) providing a computer network comprising a central server station (10) coupled via a data network (15) to a plurality of local computer stations (25.1, 25.2, ..., 26.1, 26.2,...), one local computer station (25.1, 25.2, ...) being operatively coupled to each processing station (20.1, 20.2, ...) ; (ii) defining at least one production order, which production order involves the production of a desired volume of security documents according to a defined production workflow, this production order being subdivided into a plurality of production loads (30, 30*, 30**, ...) each being assigned a machine-readable load identifier (35) ; (iii) assigning selected processing stations among available processing stations (20.1, 20.2, ...) to carry out processing of the production order according to the production workflow ; and (iv) selectively processing each production load (30, 30*, 30**, ...) through the processing stations (20.1, 20.2, ...) depending on the determined production workflow of the corresponding production order defined for each production load, whereby each production load (30, 30*, 30**, ...) is first subjected to a load acceptance procedure based on its machine-readable load identifier (35) before being authorized to be processed on a selected processing station among said available processing stations (20.1, 20.2, ...). Also described is a system for carrying out said method.