Using MRP To Increase Manufacturing Productivity

to succeed in the manufacturing industry, you ought to consider using MRP to improve your manufacturing productivity. MRP stands for Manufacturing Resource Planning and is a method for managing all aspects of the manufacturing process, including inventory, billing, costs, scheduling and more into an managed system to make your operation more efficient. The majority of modern manufacturers use a MRP program, and unless you do too, you could very well find the efficiency and productivity of your company falling behind that of better equipped competitors.

The forerunner to modern MRP programs began to be widely used by companies in the 1970s/1980s. It was based largely on Toyota’s very successful manufacturing program and comprised of a series of information outputs and inputs meant to help manufacturers decide on the ideal amounts of raw material and components to order as well as the perfect manufacturing plan and schedule to ensure that the manufacturers’ products were ready to be shipped on schedule and in sufficient quantity. It helped manufacturers be more precise when in their planning and took into account such factors as the demand for specific products, when the products were required, the materials needed to produce them, how long it takes to manufacture these products, and more. Since the 1980s, these systems have largely been computerized.

Presently, practically all MRP systems are run using computer technology. Almost every company will use a computer system to organize their shipping, ordering and manufacturing processes. MRP systems today are very easy to customize, so that manufacturers can put together an MRP system that will address the unique demands of their organization.

Virtually all basic MRP packages include functions that simplify or produce master production schedules, bills of materials, purchase management systems, material requirement planning, shop floor control, cost control, and capacity planning. Modern programs are able to handle much of the planning process for manufacturing organizations both big and small, being able to manage inventory and material needs from several sites at the same time. These sorts of features are generally available with very basic MRP programs.

You might want to have custom MRP systems put in place depending on the particular needs of your organization. Some of the most popular custom features that are available with many MRP packages are: an accounting system, a general ledger, project management, estimation aids, distribution requirement planning, technical records, CAD/CAM and CAPP programs, and sales order management. Depending on your operation, you may want your MRP system to use some or all of these functions. Modern MRP programs are extremely modular, allowing you to add only the programs which will be helpful in increasing your manufacturing productivity.

The most useful attribute of today’s MRP systems is that they can help with increasing manufacturing productivity by helping the manufacturer optimize his timetable, order only the materials needed, when they are needed ant to organize the whole manufacturing process including the order of materials to shipping the finished product. Today’s MRP systems are designed to be flexible, allowing them to adapt to the changing requirements of your business.

Marc Anderes is the VP of Operations of Maloya Laser which specializes in Metal Manufacturing and Laser Cutting with state-of-the-art laser technologies, targeting aerospace, scientific, transportation, medical and machinery needs.