ERP or MRP? Selection Guide
The right choice depends on the bottleneck before it depends on the software label. Do you lack production planning only, or shared data from sales through finance?
Start with MRP when manufacturing is the bottleneck
Prioritise MRP when BOM, material requirements, work orders, routes and stations are the main problem and sales and finance already work reliably elsewhere.
| Signal | Stronger candidate | Validate |
|---|---|---|
| Material shortages and unplanned work | MRP | BOM and inventory accuracy |
| Orders disconnected from production | ERP + MRP | End-to-end order flow |
| Separate departmental spreadsheets | ERP | Master data and ownership |
| Existing finance system will remain | MRP or phased ERP | Integration scope and data ownership |
Assess ERP when departments are disconnected
Consider ERP when orders, inventory, purchasing, production, delivery and finance run in separate spreadsheets or systems.
Account for systems that must remain
Define which system owns accounting, commerce and other data; distinguish available connectors from separately scoped integration work.
Design the target architecture before a phased rollout
A pilot product or line can come first, but codes, units, warehouses, BOMs and responsibilities should support the future scope.
Frequently asked questions
Can a small manufacturer start with MRP only?
Yes, if production planning is the main issue. Master data, inventory and integrations should still support later expansion.
Can ERP and MRP be used together?
Yes. MRP can sit inside ERP or operate as an integrated manufacturing layer. Avoid duplicated and disconnected data.
Review this workflow with Delbig
Share your sales, quoting, stock or operation flow with us; we will map the right Delbig setup for your team in a short meeting.