Uses of MRP & MRPII Systems

MRP and MRPII systems develop an efficient data planning system for manufacturing.Thomas Northcut/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Manufacturing industries must follow planning processes for every product, from its developmental stage to initial production and to final product. To outline each part of production planning, businesses use computer-based information tools such as material requirements planning, or MRP, and manufacturing resource planning, or MRPII. They function as integrated manufacturing control and activity systems.

MRP Systems

MRP systems use production stage charts, materials requirement planning and master production schedules to outline the process of creating final products. It outlines the time needed during each production stage, status of outstanding orders and inventory needs for the initial process. It determines the time required for each production stage and demand for the final product.

MRPII adds data resources to the original MRP manufacturing information systems. MRPII incorporates plan activities--such as a detailed production schedule and financial needs, inventory management, demand planning, shop-floor control and performance measurements--into manufacturing groups, such as the car industry and Marine Corps logistics.

MRP and MRPII systems are normally integrated into other production systems, such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), but are still found separately today due to computer prices. The system a company uses depends on requirements. Just In Time (JIT) inventory strategy will sometimes supersede MRP during repetitive manufacturing processes, since receiving the raw materials during production cuts down on warehouse space and costs. For pharmaceutical and defense manufacturing industries, which use nonrepetitive production processes, the MRP system is still preferred.