Material Requirements Planning
MRPA production planning and inventory control system that calculates what materials are needed, how many are required, and when they must be available to meet production schedules. MRP uses bill of materials data, inventory levels, and master production schedules to generate purchase orders and work orders.
RELATED TERMS
Bill of Materials
A comprehensive, hierarchical list of all raw materials, components, sub-assemblies, and quantities required to manufacture a finished product. BOMs serve as the foundation for material planning, cost estimation, and production scheduling, and can include multiple levels for complex assemblies.
Enterprise Resource Planning
Integrated business management software that connects finance, human resources, supply chain, manufacturing, and other core business functions into a single system. ERP provides a centralized database and standardized processes across an organization, enabling better decision-making and operational efficiency.
Production Schedule
A detailed plan that specifies what products will be manufactured, in what quantities, and when, coordinating resources across the shop floor. Production schedules balance customer demand, available capacity, material availability, and operational constraints to optimize delivery performance and resource utilization.
Work Order
A document that authorizes and provides instructions for manufacturing a specific quantity of a product. Work orders specify the materials, labor, equipment, and steps required to complete production, and serve as the primary record for tracking job progress, costs, and completion.
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