Improved MRP system of OKP enterprise based on product platform

OKP is a typical production pattern by which products ordered within a specific product domain can be developed and produced. The main characteristic of OKP enterprises is indefinite variability of product and production plan, which prolong production lead time. Traditional MRP system draw up a production plan after the design of the whole product is completed, which result in delay of delivery time in OKP enterprises because the design of customized components will postpone the beginning of drawing product plans. The variability in plan can be partly controlled by fixing parts of components or parts of their product. Product platform is a good approach to constitute and manage a common framework for similar productspsila design and manufacture. A product platform management system (PPMS) and a network plan development model (NPDM) are introduced and integrated into MRP system to form improved MRP system in which PPMS form and manage modules of product and NPDM decide the time of input and output of modules. As an illustration, the approach is applied in an OKP enterprise for improving their production efficiency and profitability.