The process of planning engineering prototypes is the same as the process of generating requirements for production items. Unique naming convention for prototypes items, forecasts, schedules, and exception sets can be used as identification.
If you don’t want to plan your prototypes, you can set the items to Not Planned.
1.0 The planner can use the forecast sets to organize individual forecasts.
2.0 Forecasts should represent the gross requirements for the items. Multiple forecasts can be created for what if analysis.
3.0 The master production schedule (MPS) is derived from the forecast.
4.0 The MPS takes into consideration the current on hand inventories of the items and calculates net requirements. In more advanced instances, the MPS takes into consideration manufacturing constraints to ensure feasible schedules.
4.1 Throughout the planning process, files can be audited by running reports.
5.0 The material requirements planning (MRP) process generates requirements for all the lower level components of the MPS. MRP takes into consideration component lead-times, lot sizes, and current on hand inventories to suggest what, when and how much material is needed.
6.0 Exception reports draw attention to shortages and overages of both material and capacities. Exception criteria can be defined and attached to items.
7.0 The MRP process relies on the Bill of Materials and routings of the forecasted items. If these files contain errors, the system will not produce the desired results.
8.0 MRP creates a suggested plan. Plans can automatically be released or reviewed by planners before release.
