Lesson 4 of 5
Stock/requirements list
9 min
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The stock/requirements list is the planner's single source of truth for one product in one plant or MRP area. Transaction MD04 and the Fiori app with the same name show every receipt and requirement in date order, with the projected available quantity after each line. Unlike the MRP list of classic MRP, it is live: it reflects every change the moment it is saved.
| Date | MRP element | Data | Receipt / requirement | Available quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | Stock | Plant stock | +120 | 120 |
| Today | Safety stock | -50 | 70 | |
| 30 Sep | PlOrd (planned order) | Lot-for-lot, available 30 Sep | +330 | 400 |
| 01 Oct | IndReq (PIR) | Version 00, open 280 | -280 | 120 |
| 10 Oct | CusOrd (sales order) | Great Lakes Fleet Services | -120 | 0 |
A simplified stock/requirements list for CMC-ALT-100 in plant 1710. Real lists sort by date and use element abbreviations that vary slightly by release.
Reading the list
- Header: product, plant (or MRP area), MRP type, MRP controller, and links to the product master and the strategy.
- Elements: stock, safety stock, PIRs, sales orders, dependent requirements, planned orders, purchase requisitions, purchase orders and production orders, each with a short code.
- Available quantity: the running balance. Negative means a shortage on that date. A planned list ends at zero or at safety stock, not below it.
- Segments: the net requirements segment, a planning segment for strategies like 50, and individual customer segments for make-to-order. Each is a separate running balance.
Exception messages
MRP attaches exception messages to elements that need a planner's attention. They are grouped (for example, rescheduling, start dates in the past, safety stock) so you can filter by group. Common ones include:
| Message (typical number) | Meaning | Typical action |
|---|---|---|
| Bring process forward (10) | A firm receipt arrives after the requirement it should cover | Expedite the order or move the requirement |
| Postpone process (15) | A firm receipt arrives earlier than needed | Push it out to avoid early stock |
| Cancel process (20) | A firm receipt is no longer needed at all | Cancel or reduce it |
| Opening, start or finish date in the past (05, 06, 07) | The proposal should already have been opened, started or finished | Convert and expedite, or replan |
| Safety stock fallen below | Projected stock drops under safety stock | Check receipts and priorities |
Common exception messages. Numbers and texts are configurable; check your system's exception groups.
Rescheduling messages only appear for firm receipts (production orders, purchase orders, firmed proposals). MRP changes non-firm proposals itself instead of telling you to. That is why a stock/requirements list full of reschedule-in messages usually means firm orders are out of step with demand, not that MRP failed.
- Is the receipt firm (production order, PO, firmed proposal)?Yes → read its exception message and act · No → MRP will adjust it on the next run
- Is the message about timing (10, 15)?Yes → move the receipt or the requirement · No → continue
- Is the receipt no longer needed (20)?Yes → cancel or reduce it · No → continue
- Is a date already in the past (05, 06, 07)?Yes → convert, expedite or replan now · No → monitor
Work the list in this order every morning: first the elements with dates in the past, because they already threaten a customer date; then reschedule-in messages on firm receipts, because they are the next to become late; then excess and cancel messages, which tie up cash but rarely stop a delivery. Contoso's MRP controller 101 filters the coverage app by exception group to work through each pile in turn.
What would you do?
The stock/requirements list for a make-to-order product shows 20 pieces of sales order stock for order 1000561 and a shortage of 20 for order 1000562. A planner asks why MRP does not use the stock. What is the right answer?
- The stock/requirements list (MD04 or Fiori) is a live view of receipts, requirements and available quantity.
- Segments (net, planning, individual customer) each keep their own balance.
- Exception messages flag firm receipts that are early, late or unneeded, and dates in the past.
- Find problem products with the coverage apps; understand them in the stock/requirements list.
Check your understanding · not graded
Lesson check
1. What is the key difference between the stock/requirements list and the classic MRP list?
2. What does a negative available quantity on a date mean?
3. Which exception message suggests moving a firm receipt to an earlier date?
4. Why do rescheduling messages appear mostly for firm receipts?