Which planning module is used to validate the master production schedule at a medium-range horizon before detailed MRP runs?

Which planning module is used to validate the master production schedule at a medium-range horizon before detailed MRP runs?

• A. Capacity Planning
• B. Resource Requirement Planning
• C. Bill of Materials
• D. Rough Cut Capacity Planning

Answer: (D)

Rough Cut Capacity Planning focuses on checking whether the master production schedule can be supported by available capacity in the medium term. It looks at the big, high-level loads on key resources—like main work centers and machines—and uses aggregate data to gauge if the planned output is feasible within a set horizon. This step catches potential capacity bottlenecks early, before you dive into detailed material planning. If RCCP shows that the plan would overload resources, you can adjust the MPS (quantity, timing, or mix) and then run the detailed MRP to compute exact material requirements and scheduling. Other options don’t fit this specific role: broad Capacity Planning tends to address longer-term, strategic capacity decisions rather than validating a specific master schedule in the mid-range; the Bill of Materials is just the list of components and doesn’t assess capacity; and Resource Requirement Planning translates plans into resource needs but after you’ve already validated the feasibility of the schedule with RCCP and are moving into detailed execution.

Rough Cut Capacity Planning focuses on checking whether the master production schedule can be supported by available capacity in the medium term. It looks at the big, high-level loads on key resources—like main work centers and machines—and uses aggregate data to gauge if the planned output is feasible within a set horizon. This step catches potential capacity bottlenecks early, before you dive into detailed material planning. If RCCP shows that the plan would overload resources, you can adjust the MPS (quantity, timing, or mix) and then run the detailed MRP to compute exact material requirements and scheduling.

Other options don’t fit this specific role: broad Capacity Planning tends to address longer-term, strategic capacity decisions rather than validating a specific master schedule in the mid-range; the Bill of Materials is just the list of components and doesn’t assess capacity; and Resource Requirement Planning translates plans into resource needs but after you’ve already validated the feasibility of the schedule with RCCP and are moving into detailed execution.