Which element shows the quantity and timing of end items (the master production schedule)?

• A. Intermediate Range
• B. Master Production Schedule (MPS)
• C. Aggregate Production Plan (APP)
• D. ATP

Answer: (B)

The plan that shows the quantity and timing of end items is the master production schedule. It takes forecasted or actual demand and converts it into a detailed timetable for finished goods, specifying exactly what to produce, in what quantities, and when, for each time period. This detailed schedule guides shop-floor production, purchasing, and capacity decisions and serves as the primary input for material requirements planning. Other options operate at broader levels: the aggregate production plan looks at overall production across product families and a longer horizon, ATP is a readiness metric showing how much inventory can still be promised to customers, and intermediate-range planning covers capacity and output at a more general level.