Many enterprises that implemented
MRP II earlier are upgrading their systems to ERP systems, more applications have been integrated, system function is stronger, and the degree of integration is getting higher and higher (Li, 2000b).
Many operations such as Procter & Gamble have integrated their production scheduling software with
MRP II, Distribution Resource Planning (DRP), such as inventory control, and other corporate data systems.
The AS/400 is the plant's main hardware link to an
MRP II system (PRISM from Marcam, Newton, Mass.).
"The ABCs of
MRP II," Wight wrote, "are C - hardware and software; B - accurate, timely data; and A - people, people, people."
Such industry cooperation has its precedent in the
MRP II world, which APICS helped create and nurture.
"What's new in ERP is no different than what has always been new in the product category currently known as 'ERP,' formerly '
MRP II' [manufacturing resource planning], formerly 'MRP' [material requirements planning]: The difference has to do with what's being added to ERP," says Shepherd.
In fact, ERP is generally considered to be the evolutionary next step from age-old materials requirements planning (MRP) and manufacturing resource planning (
MRP II) packages.
And it means having robust
MRP II (materials requirements planning) and EDI (electronic data interchange) systems, supplied by System Software Associates, Inc.
(Eight are distribution facilities.) A patchwork of custom software applications was subsequently transferred into an integrated Manufacturing Resources Planning (
MRP II) environment.
He is responsible for consulting services and educational offerings, with primary emphasis in
MRP II systems, JIT manufacturing, CIM, business planning, materials management, and shop-floor control.
Despite the promises fueling the march of acronym-laden technologies for the past 20 years--MRR
MRP II, MES, ERP, APS, SCM, and more--manufacturing's problem still is the big disconnect in the information that resides in enterprise resource planning (ERP) and the schedules that it produces versus-what-the-plant-is-executing-and-actually-producing.
The software makes the bridge from the
MRP II schedule to the materials management software and cell controllers that coordinate sequencing of the AS/RS with real-time production activities.