Master Production Schedule (MPS)
Definition
The Master Production Schedule (MPS) is the anticipated build plan for finished products or key end items, stating what will be produced, in what quantity, and in which time period. It is the primary input that drives MRP.
In Practice
The MPS sits between the aggregate S&OP plan and detailed execution. Where S&OP might say "produce 50,000 units of the product family in June," the MPS breaks that into specific items and weeks: 8,000 of model A in week 23, 5,000 of model B in week 24. It must respect both the demand plan and proven capacity, which is checked with rough-cut capacity planning.
Stability is the master scheduler's core concern. Constant changes inside the near-term horizon whip the factory and suppliers around, so most companies use time fences: the next two weeks are frozen, weeks three to six allow limited changes, and beyond that the schedule is open. The scheduler negotiates exceptions rather than letting every hot order break the plan.
The MPS also feeds available-to-promise, letting customer service commit delivery dates against uncommitted planned production rather than guessing.
Related Calculators
Related Terms
Material Requirements Planning (MRP) is a calculation engine that translates a production schedule into time-phased requirements for every component and raw material, using bills of materials, inventory records, and lead times.
Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP)Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) is a monthly cross-functional process that aligns demand, supply, inventory, and financial plans into one company-wide plan. It gives leadership a single set of numbers to run the business on over a 3-to-24-month horizon.
Capacity PlanningCapacity planning is the process of determining the production, storage, and labor resources needed to meet expected demand, and deciding how to close gaps between required and available capacity.
Supply PlanningSupply planning determines how a company will meet the demand plan: what to make or buy, in what quantities, where, and when. It translates forecasted demand into production schedules, purchase plans, and inventory targets.