Which business function provides a response to customer order inquiries based on resource availability, generating available quantities and delivery due dates?

• A. ATP
• B. S&OP
• C. ERP
• D. MRP II

Answer: (A)

Available-to-promise is the capability that answers a customer’s order inquiry by checking resource availability and inventory to determine what can be promised and when. It considers on-hand stock plus scheduled receipts (production or procurement) and subtracts already committed quantities to calculate the amount that can be reserved for the new order and the delivery date supported by current capacity and lead times. This lets you provide a firm available quantity and a realistic due date in response to the customer.

Other functions operate more at a broader planning level. S&OP focuses on balancing supply and demand across time horizons at a strategic level; ERP is the overarching system that integrates many business processes; MRP II centers on material needs planning and capacity planning. The ATP function specifically matches real-time resource availability to customer inquiries, producing the promised quantity and delivery date.