Material Requirements Planning (MRP) has been the backbone of supply chain planning for decades—but in today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environment, its foundational assumptions are increasingly at odds with reality.

In this thought-provoking session, industry experts Carol Ptak and Chad Smith unpack the three core assumptions behind every MRP schedule—and why they no longer hold true. From the false certainty of demand forecasts to the illusion of stable lead times and perfect execution, these assumptions create the conditions for chronic shortages, excess inventory, and costly expediting.

Using real-world examples and practical insights, the speakers will explore how these flawed assumptions amplify variability, distort signals across the supply chain, and fuel the bullwhip effect. More importantly, they’ll introduce a modern, demand-driven approach to planning—focused on flow, decoupling, and resilience—to help organizations better navigate disruption and improve performance.

Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of why traditional planning methods fall short—and what to do instead to build more adaptive, responsive, and resilient supply chains.