Capacity planning
Quick answer
Without capacity planning, MRP can propose more production than the plant can perform, leading to missed dates and firefighting.
Key takeaways
- MRP plans what and when, but assumes infinite capacity; capacity planning then checks the load it creates against each work…
- Work-center capacity: available hours/output.
- Capacity requirements from planned/production orders (via routings).
- Watch out: Ignoring capacity, infeasible plans.
What capacity planning does
MRP plans what and when, but assumes infinite capacity; capacity planning then checks the load it creates against each work center’s available capacity, highlighting overloads, and lets planners level the load (reschedule) so the plan is executable. It turns a materials-feasible plan into a capacity-feasible one.
Key concepts
- Work-center capacity: available hours/output.
- Capacity requirements from planned/production orders (via routings).
- Capacity evaluation: load vs available.
- Capacity leveling: rescheduling to remove overloads.
Why it matters
Without capacity planning, MRP can propose more production than the plant can perform, leading to missed dates and firefighting. Capacity planning gives realistic, achievable schedules. It relies on accurate routings (operation times) and work-center capacities, and is central to reliable production planning.
Common pitfalls
- Ignoring capacity, infeasible plans.
- Inaccurate routings/work-center data, wrong load.
- Not leveling known overloads.
Want to learn this properly?
Our live, instructor-led SAP Training covers this hands-on, with real projects and a certification path.
Check your understanding
Which statement is true of Capacity planning?
- A. A profit center is a controlling (CO) organizational unit representing an area of the business for which…
- B. The presentation layer is the top tier of SAP’s architecture, the interface through which users interact with…
- C. It turns a materials-feasible plan into a capacity-feasible one.
Show answer
C. It turns a materials-feasible plan into a capacity-feasible one.
Covered in the “What capacity planning does” section of this lesson.
Which of these also applies to Capacity planning?
- A. Following steps without understanding the concept.
- B. Confusing instance, system and client.
- C. Capacity planning gives realistic, achievable schedules.
Show answer
C. Capacity planning gives realistic, achievable schedules.
Covered in the “Why it matters” section of this lesson.
Which part of the Learn SAP curriculum covers Capacity planning?
- A. SAP projects
- B. SAP navigation
- C. SAP PP
Show answer
C. SAP PP
This lesson sits in the SAP PP section of the Learn SAP course.