What is the primary focus of Material Requirements Planning (MRP)?

The primary focus of Material Requirements Planning (MRP) is on production scheduling and inventory control. MRP is a production planning, scheduling, and inventory control system used to manage manufacturing processes. It helps companies to determine what materials are needed and when they are needed to meet production goals while minimizing inventory levels.

By forecasting the required materials based on the production schedule, MRP ensures that the right amounts of materials are available at the right time, thereby avoiding both shortages and excess inventory. This aspect of production scheduling is crucial as it directly affects a company's ability to fulfill orders on time while efficiently managing resources.

Additionally, MRP systems typically take into account lead times for ordering and receiving materials, helping to optimize the production process and improve overall operational efficiency.