Critical factors of MRP implementation in small and medium-sized firms

The paper deals with the implementation process of material requirements planning (MRP) within small and medium-sized firms. While the literature shows almost general agreement on the critical factors of MRP implementation, few empirical studies exist to support the proposed elements. The purpose of this study is to identify the elements of MRP implementation that are required to ensure successful implementation. A number of elements of implementation were identified and subsequently grouped into a hierarchical structure consisting of eight broader elements. Criteria were selected as measures of the level of implementation success. The analysis revealed that only a few of the identified elements were indeed required for successful implementation. Among these are management support, level of functional integration and data accuracy.