Master Planning and Scheduling, 4th Edition

5Using the Master Planning and Scheduling Output for Make‐to‐Stock Products

It requires a very unusual mind to make an analysis of the obvious.

This chapter examines the computer software output—reports or screens—used by master planners and master schedulers in managing demand and supply balancing, timing, as well as quantities. The content in this chapter is deliberately focused on screens supporting the master scheduling process and leaves more in‐depth discussion on master planning techniques and supporting software for Chapter 16, “Supply Management and Aggregate Master Planning.”

Suffice it to say, the screens supporting the master planning process have similar information to screens supporting master scheduling (e.g., pertinent header information, time‐phased planning grids depicting demand, inbound/planned supply, projected available inventory balances, capacity information, etc.) but are geared toward a higher level of aggregate planning. The master plan, derived from and in support of the aggregate supply plan approved in the integrated business planning (IBP) process (see Chapter 14), is not as concerned with actual demand detail and master schedule order detail (although those details do sometimes come into play in aggregate planning, especially when unusually large orders or very influential customers are involved).

The master planning screens' purpose is to support the aggregate balancing of demand, supply, inventory, backlog, and key resource capacity at a ...