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Master Production Schedule (MPS) Template

The master production schedule says what you will build and when, and it drives the whole MRP run underneath. This template gives a master scheduler a simple weekly grid to balance demand, supply and inventory for one product.

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Week	Forecast (units)	Customer orders (units)	Demand used (units)	Projected available (start) (units)	MPS quantity (units)	Projected available (end) (units)	Shortfall (units)
			70			70	0
			60			10	0
			60			50	0
			60			90	0
			60			30	0
			60			70	0

Total demand used

370

Total MPS quantity

400

Lowest projected available

This sheet uses the larger of forecast and orders as demand, a common simplification. Many plants use forecast beyond the demand time fence and orders inside it. Copy each end balance into the next week's start balance. A positive shortfall means the MPS quantity must increase or the date must move.

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How to use the template

Enter the weekly forecast and booked customer orders. The sheet uses the larger of the two as demand. Enter the starting available balance, then the MPS quantity you plan to complete each week. The ending balance is start minus demand plus MPS. Adjust MPS quantities, usually in multiples of your build lot, until the balance never falls below zero or your safety level.

The logic of an MPS

An MPS is built for end items or key planning items, in time buckets, within a planning horizon longer than cumulative lead time. It must respect capacity, which is why a rough cut capacity check follows. Orders inside the demand time fence are firm and forecast beyond it. The schedule is the input to MRP: whatever you put in the MPS row becomes gross requirement for components.

Plan on end items or planning bills.
Respect the build lot or run size.
Check capacity before releasing.
Keep the near term firm.

Reading the example

Weeks 1, 3, 4 and 6 receive a batch of 100, with nothing built in weeks 2 and 5 when balance is sufficient. The lowest balance is 10 in week 2, which is thin but positive. A scheduler would look at that and decide whether the 10 units is enough safety against a demand spike, or whether week 2 needs an extra smaller run.

Common mistakes

Planners often load the MPS without checking capacity, then spend weeks expediting. Others change near term quantities freely, causing component churn. A third mistake is netting forecast against orders twice, inflating demand. Agree a change policy: what can move, by whom, and how far out.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a master production schedule?

It is a time phased plan of quantities of end items to be produced, derived from forecast and customer orders, constrained by capacity and inventory targets. It feeds MRP, which plans the components.

How far ahead should the MPS plan?

At least as far as the cumulative lead time of the product, so long lead components can be ordered in time. Many plants plan 3 to 12 months, with weekly buckets near term and monthly further out.

What is the difference between MPS and MRP?

MPS plans finished goods or key items and is controlled by a master scheduler. MRP takes that plan and explodes it to components, planning purchase and shop orders for everything beneath.

Why use the larger of forecast and orders?

It prevents under-planning when orders exceed forecast and avoids double counting when orders are part of the forecast. It is a simple rule; consumption based methods are more accurate but need more setup.

Netray can pull forecast, orders and on hand from your ERP into a live MPS view so the scheduler works from current data instead of a pasted spreadsheet.

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