MRP Exception Message Triage Template
MRP creates hundreds of action messages every run, and most planners cannot act on all of them. Triage means deciding which ones matter, why they appeared and who does what. This template gives that decision a record.
Fill in
MRP Exception Message Triage Template
MRP exception message triage
Company: Acme Precision Ltd Planner: R. Mehta Plant: Plant 01 MRP run date: 2026-10-19
Message
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Part number | BRK-1001 |
| Message | Reschedule in |
| Order reference | PO 4500012345 line 10 |
| Current due date | 2026-11-09 |
| Required date | 2026-10-30 |
| Quantity affected | 400 EA |
Impact if ignored
Shortage on work order WO-77120 on 30 Oct. Line stops for two shifts.
Root cause and decision
Root cause: Demand increase Decision: Expedite with supplier Action owner and date: Buyer J. Singh by 2026-10-21
Follow up
| Check | Done | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier confirmed new date | ||
| Order updated in ERP | ||
| Root cause corrected at source | ||
| Message cleared on next MRP run |
Fill in one copy per significant exception. For routine messages, use the log in your ERP and reserve this template for those that need an owner and a record.
Exception message analysis
Optional: ask for a review of your MRP exception volumes and root causes.
Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.
How to use the template
Fill the fields from the MRP exception screen: part, message type, order reference, current due date, required date and quantity. Describe the impact if nothing is done, using affected work orders or customer orders. Then record the root cause and decision. The generated document can be printed or exported to Word to attach to an escalation, or kept as an audit trail for planner decisions.
The common message types
Reschedule in means supply arrives later than needed and should be pulled earlier. Reschedule out means supply is earlier than needed and could be pushed. Cancel means the order is no longer required. Release means a planned order has reached its release date. Past due means the order is already late. Messages inside the planning time fence usually need a manual decision because MRP will not change them itself.
- Reschedule in: usually urgent, check supplier capacity.
- Reschedule out: low urgency, saves inventory cost.
- Cancel: check supplier commitments and cancellation terms.
- Release: confirm material and capacity first.
Prioritising
Sort by the date of the real need, then by the value or criticality of the part. A reschedule in on a constraint item with a shop order due this week outranks ten reschedule outs. Note the root cause every time: if the same cause appears repeatedly, such as a wrong lead time, fixing the master data removes whole classes of messages.
Common mistakes
Planners often clear messages without recording why, so the same exception returns next run. Another mistake is following a reschedule message blindly when the root cause is inaccurate inventory. And messages for items in the frozen zone are ignored because MRP did not change the order, even though the shortage is real.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an MRP exception message?
It is an action message produced by the MRP run indicating that an existing order or planned order should be rescheduled, cancelled or created because supply and demand do not match in time or quantity.
Which MRP exceptions should be worked first?
Those with the nearest real need date and the highest impact: reschedule in, past due orders and shortages on constraint items or customer orders. Cancel and reschedule out messages can wait.
Why do the same exception messages return every run?
Because the cause was not fixed. Typical reasons are wrong lead times, inaccurate inventory, unrealistic supplier dates or orders that were reviewed but not updated in the ERP.
Can I ignore reschedule out messages?
You can for a while, but they hide inventory. Persistent reschedule outs on large orders tie up cash. Review them at a regular cadence, weekly for A items, and push the orders out when suppliers allow.
Netray can build a read-only exception dashboard on your ERP data that ranks action messages by real shortage impact so planners start with those that matter.
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