MRP. manufacturing resource planning. A manufacturing concept.

MRP is similar to ERP (enterprice resource planning), but on a smaller scale. With MRP one plans what resources, including raw materials, production cells, or other assets, are required or will be required in order to keep up with demand for your finished goods.

For example in a process manufacturing facility, say a chemical plant, you may only have available 2 high speed dispersers (fancy mixers), but have several products that need these units in order to be manufactured. Using your MRP software and procedures you can schedule when the batches will be made on each machine, while making sure raw materials, manpower, and finished goods are available to use those machines and create the required finished goods.