- MRP software at a glance
- Nine MRP tools to consider
- Free help most small manufacturers never ask for
- Small-batch tool, MRP system or manufacturing ERP?
- Get your data ready before you buy
- Features to look for
- Why MRP projects stall
- MRP for makers selling online
- My plain advice on choosing MRP software
- Frequently asked questions
The best MRP software matches the way you make things: small-batch makers need inventory that syncs with their sales channels, job shops need planning and scheduling, and growing manufacturers need MRP inside a full manufacturing ERP. Nine options follow in no particular order.
MRP, or material requirements planning, answers one question that keeps manufacturers awake: do we have the materials to make what we've promised, when we've promised it?
The nine tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from small-batch inventory tools to manufacturing ERP. Each description comes from the vendor's own site, read this week. For a wider view of how tools are changing production, see my piece on how advanced tools are reshaping manufacturing.
MRP software at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free version or an open source edition. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cetec ERP | Manufacturing ERP | Quoting through shipping in one system | Not stated |
| Deskera MRP | Production planning | Industrial, apparel and food makers | Not stated |
| Fusion Operations | Shop floor software | Digitising the shop floor | Trial only |
| Genius ERP | Manufacturing ERP | Custom and engineer-to-order makers | Not stated |
| Global Shop Solutions | Manufacturing ERP | Planning and scheduling for job shops | Not stated |
| Katana | Cloud inventory and MRP | Ecommerce brands that make their products | Not stated |
| MRPeasy | MRP | Small manufacturers and distributors | Trial only |
| SOS Inventory | QuickBooks inventory add-on | Adding production to QuickBooks | Trial only |
| Stocksmith | Small-batch inventory | Makers selling on Shopify, Amazon and Faire | Not stated |
Nine MRP tools to consider
Cetec ERP
Best for: Small manufacturers that want quoting, inventory, production and financials fully integrated out of the box in one system.
Deskera MRP
Best for: Manufacturers in industrial, electronics, apparel, footwear or food production that want MRP with an ERP behind it.
Fusion Operations
Best for: Manufacturers on Autodesk tools who want production tracking and shop floor data moved off paper and spreadsheets.
Genius ERP
Best for: Machine shops, fabricators and equipment makers that want an ERP designed for manufacturers rather than a general business suite.
Global Shop Solutions
Best for: Job shops and manufacturers that want planning, scheduling and project management in an ERP with cloud and on-premise options.
Katana
Best for: Product brands that make what they sell and want cloud inventory with total visibility across materials, production and orders.
MRPeasy
Best for: Small manufacturers and distributors who want MRP that connects to tools such as QuickBooks Online, Amazon and HubSpot.
SOS Inventory
Best for: Businesses that keep their books in QuickBooks and want inventory and light manufacturing tracked alongside it.
Stocksmith
Best for: Small-batch makers selling on Shopify, Amazon and Faire who want inventory and manufacturing records synced with those channels.
Free help most small manufacturers never ask for
Here's something many small manufacturers don't know about. NIST's Manufacturing Extension Partnership has MEP Centers across the US and Puerto Rico, with nearly 1,400 manufacturing advisors at more than 450 service locations.
A local MEP Center can help you map your process before an MRP project starts. That matters, because most MRP projects stall on messy bills of materials and stock records, not on the software itself.
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Small-batch tool, MRP system or manufacturing ERP?
Small-batch tools suit makers who sell on Shopify, Amazon or wholesale channels and need materials and finished stock tracked together. Dedicated MRP systems add production planning, purchasing and scheduling. Manufacturing ERP covers all of that plus finance, quoting and shipping in one system.
Pick the smallest group that solves today's problem with room to grow. A five-person workshop doesn't need a full ERP, and a multi-site manufacturer will outgrow a small-batch tool quickly.
Get your data ready before you buy
- Write down every product's bill of materials, including packaging.
- Count your stock and fix the records that are wrong.
- List your suppliers and their usual lead times.
- Note how long each production step really takes.
- Decide who owns stock accuracy once the system is live.
- Pick one product line to go live with first.
Features to look for
- Bills of materials. Multi-level, with sub-assemblies.
- Purchasing suggestions. What to order and when, based on demand.
- Production scheduling. A realistic plan for your machines and people.
- Traceability. Batch or lot tracking if your products need it.
Why MRP projects stall
They rarely fail because of the software. They stall because stock counts are wrong, bills of materials are out of date or nobody owns keeping them right. Fix those before go-live and the system starts paying back quickly.
MRP for makers selling online
If you make products in small batches and sell online, look for a tool that syncs with your sales channels so materials, finished stock and orders all update together. That way a sale on your website reserves the materials for the next batch, and you're not finding out at the bench that you've run short of a component.
Do you make MRP software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing MRP software
Clean data first, software second. An MRP system is only as good as the bills of materials and stock counts you feed it, and even the smartest tool can't plan around numbers that are wrong.
Then choose the system your production team will use on the shop floor, not the one with the longest feature list. Ask for a trial with your own products. For the bigger picture on where making things is heading, my piece on the move from mass production to mass customisation is worth a read.
Frequently asked questions
What is MRP software?
MRP software plans the materials you need to make your products, based on orders, stock and bills of materials, so you can buy and produce at the right time.
What's the difference between MRP and ERP?
MRP focuses on materials and production planning. ERP covers the whole business, including finance, sales and often MRP as one part.
Is there free MRP software?
None of the tools on this list names a free plan on the pages I read. Several offer a free trial.
Do small manufacturers need MRP?
If you regularly run out of materials, over-order or miss delivery dates, MRP usually helps, even for a small workshop.
Where can small manufacturers get help with MRP?
In the US, NIST's MEP Centers work with small manufacturers and can help map processes before a software project.
Can MRP software connect to my online store?
Some tools on this list sync with channels such as Shopify and Amazon. Check the integrations for your own sales channels.
