MRP (Material Requirements Planning) or its cousin MRP II (Manufacturing Resource Planning) are valuable resources to business of all sizes that want to control inventory costs, streamline production and target processes to the right scale for their client base and consumer market. Both of these processes rely on customized software for crunching the numbers and keeping tabs on the best future solutions for buying and selling.

Busy managers, department heads or other decision makers can use the power of the web to get staff trained in MRP software systems. Just check out the online pages of firms offering MRP software program training and select a choice that fits your situation. Managers may look for:

1. On-site training solutions for getting staff knowledgeable about MRP software and systems.

2. Online material requirements planning solutions and software training for staff.

3. Additional material requirements planning software resources from firms that offer flexible MRP software training options.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get on-site training options for MRP software

For getting 'face to face' training, check out the websites of companies that can send experts out to educate staff on the wonders of MRP. It may help out when your workers have insightful questions they need answered, how to deal with a MRP software package or about the overall goals of a MRP software process.

I recommend: Get on-site MRP and training options from Eno.Com IT consulting and training. You can look at choices for more in-house training on MRP at the ACA Group online.

Find online MRP software training

For companies where staff don't have the time to give to seminars or traveling courses, try an online option. Online courses can give staff a broad understanding of MRP practices that they can work into their everyday handling of inventory and accounting.

I recommend: Online MRP software courses from DEACOM, an online educational center, show students through the ins and outs of an MRP software system. Look for more online options for busy staff training at PlanetLearn.com.

Look for more from MRP software industry sites

Some of the online businesses that offer MRP training have connections to a specific industry or even a specific software. These sites shouldn't be overlooked, as businesses with a foot in MRP can be an effective source of staff training for your in-house MRP options.

I recommend: The Fabtrol website offers multiple opportunities for learning about specific MRP systems and MRP II software programs online. Get more training options for specific software programs from Exact Alliance.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When looking for MRP training solutions, try to find something that will target the people who will benefit from it the most. Identify key players in your supply and logistics process and find training that will let them learn at their own pace to get some real MRP expertise into your crew.

MRP stands for two related terms: Material Requirements Planning (MRP), a software-based manufacturing inventory control/production planning system; and Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP II), a planning method for all of the manufacturer’s resources. Manufacturers must have an effective plan to get their products to the customer as quickly as possible.

There are the top three uses of the MRP resources for small manufacturers:

1. To control and plan the types and amounts of materials they produce.
2. To ensure that all products meet the customers’ demands for the product, the customers’ deadlines, and at an inexpensive cost.
3. To plan an expedient and growth-driven accounting process.

Action Steps
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Inputting info for output schedules

MRP software means you input the master production schedule, inventory status records, bills of materials, and planning data, then you receive the output of recommended production and purchasing schedules.

I recommend: Horizon Software, provider of MRP solutions to small to medium-sized manufacturers for 20-plus years, offers easy software integration with MS Office and other third-party solutions.

Double-check your numbers

Remember, the dependability of your outputs depends on the accuracy of your input numbers and information. Take the extra time to train your employees to ensure their attention to detail.

I recommend: At 20/20 Software, select free demos of several programs to find the best fit – just scroll down to 'Manufacturing/MRP' and take your pick!

Combine the best MRP with the best employees

MRP is not without its downside, because it's only as accurate as the people who input the data. Ensuring accurate data entry is vital to its success.

I recommend: Go to DBA Manufacturing for their MRP software, and click on 'Guided Tour' for 33 free MRP demos. Go to Exact Alliance for their Small Business MRP, which offers a terrific 'make and buy' report and much more for the small manufacturer.

Use all of your resources for planning

MRP and MRP II are only two ways to control product output. Make sure you have appropriate provisions to accommodate your resource requirements, including sales goals that fit, vendor relationships, ability to foresee inventory shortages, audits, accurate cash flow estimations, and quality control enforcement and inspection.

I recommend: Sage Pro Manufacturing offers excellent tools to help you improve the efficiency of your manufacturing process, to automate inputs and outputs, provide for quick adjustments, and help you stay ahead of competitors. Consider enrolling your key employees in Sage Software University to take a class in the Sage software program you choose for the best possible employee training. Classes are available online or in classrooms throughout the U.S.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't get confused: MRP is not the same as ERP, which is enterprise based planning, and designed for the Big Manufacturers.
• •  Use just-your-size solutions: MPR is not just for the big manufacturers anymore. Today's small business can get MRP software for a reasonable price and in a practical application designed for a simple PC.
• •  Make sure materials are available: Before you plan to use materials, ensure that they're on hand for production.
• •  Find the best solution: MRP that allows you to track raw materials, sub-assemblies, and completed assemblies.

Material requirements planning or MRP is a tool for businesses that need help with their "economies of scale." MRP software packages can help streamline inventory and provide planning adaptations for market fluctuations or re-invented product lines. MRP is differentiated from MRPII (Manufacturing Resource Planning); both help businesses to control costs and make production more efficient.

Industry specific Internet resources can help busy managers find out more about material requirements planning programs. From large commercial websites to more independent pages, news and info sources can show you how MRP helps businesses with goals like the following:

1. Managing inventory and guaranteeing sufficient volume for consumer demand with MRP software.

2. Renovating outdated accounting practices and providing up-to-date database handling of finances.

3. Providing output on the hottest products coming out of a business and how to keep the product line relevant to the current market.

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Find MRP software info from industry sites

You can get in-depth reviews and thoughts on MRP software systems from product reviews and other detailed informational articles at sites that provide MRP software packages or other gear within the industry.

I recommend: Get reports, FAQs and more on material requirements planning software at E-Z-MRP online. Modern Materials Handling from Reed Business Information offers newsletters, tips and more on a visual display page for industry insiders.

Find more on MRP software from software sites

Sites focusing on business software solutions also routinely provide managers with information about MRP systems and software and how a business can establish all of its relevant statistics for premier handling solutions. Look for detailed reviews and more to help you make informed decisions.

I recommend: Get info on MRP software packages and how they work for business at the Software Picks Network. For more, check out the Supply Chain Management Software News.

Look for blogs and forums for more MRP software info

You can find more independent news on MRP software system options in blogs and forums where people with MRP experience dish on the benefits and drawbacks of this kind of technology. Look for these independent news sources as part of your appraisal of MRP solutions.

I recommend: Find news items on MRP from the MRP blog at Toolbox for IT. Find more opinions on MRP and related technologies at the Industry Week forum, where business leaders share thoughts.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Let news sources on MRP be your guide for evaluating its use in your industry, but don't ever let it replace your own 'gut solutions' for what may be complicating your business finances. MRP can help audit materials and efficiency, but senior management has to do more than just plug in software to really chart the future of a business. For overall planning, you need confidence, integrity and an ear toward your customers.

MRP software is used for materials resource planning (MRP) and manufacturing resource planning (MRPII). MRP is a type of software that helps users with inventory control and production planning. MRPII software helps users ensure that manufacturers get their products made and delivered to consumers as quickly as possible.

MRP software has several purposes: to control and plan materials needed, to make sure products meet customer demands, and to interface with accounting processes. Getting familiar with MRP software terminology makes research, selection and implementation much easier.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Enterprise resource planning (ERP)

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is an enterprise-wide system that incorporates all the functions of MRPII and is used to plan and support manufacturing, finance, distribution, maintenance and engineering in a manufacturing facility. ERP is one of the functions of MRP software and serves as the central storehouse for data.

I recommend: CIO has more information about enterprise resource planning.

Master production schedule (MPS)

A master production schedule (MPS) is a plan that is used for production, inventory and staffing in a manufacturing environment. The MPS drives the manufacturing activity created by user input and constant tweaking. Once the MPS is developed, it is interfaced with MRP software by specifying the dates of production and quantities required.

I recommend: MCTS has an in depth discussion of the master production scheduling process. The Bridgefield Group has a glossary of terms related to materials planning and describes how the MPS is used to build a materials resource plan.

Advanced Planning & Scheduling

An advanced planning & scheduling system is a program that determines how raw materials and production capacity can be allocated to meet demand. MRP software is used to develop these step-by-step procedures.

I recommend: 2020software gives detailed information on advanced planning & scheduling. TechTarget explains the process, while CBSInteractive describes forward and backward scheduling as well.

Acceptable quality level (AQL)

Acceptable quality level, also referred to as AQL, is an inspection standard that defines the maximum number of defects that are acceptable in a random sampling. AQL can be built into MRP software when it is customized for a particular application.

I recommend: Visit Siliconfareast.com for a detailed description of how to determine AQL.

Bill of material

A bill of material is a list of raw materials for parts, components and sub-assemblies built into MRP software. The bill of material also details the quantities needed to manufacture a product.

I recommend: Arena Solutions offers a complete definition of bill of material.

Capacity planning

Capacity planning is a process establishing the production capacity required for a manufacturing facility to meet the demands for its products. MRP software helps with the process of capacity planning.

I recommend: Exact Software offers a description of what MRP software should include so that capacity planning can be handled efficiently.