As material resource planning (MRP) involves the initiation of the automation of planning needs for resources, ordering materials, and scheduling tasks to be completed on the shop floor; it is to be expected that certain functions of human resources will be directly affected with the implementation of the MRP system. The first of these would be job analysis which is the process of getting detailed information about the job and job design which involves defining the way work will be performed and the tasks involved in completing those requirements. Obviously the shift from manual process to automation will change the standards for certain task requirements and necessitate the assessment of standards of performance. This leads directly to the affectation of a second human resource function of training and development.
Training and development will become a priority as the MRP system will require dedicated orientation to introduce the systems to the employees. This will need to be a well planned undertaking for information, disclosure and inquiry response. Skill development will also need to be provided to prepare the users of the new systems for the task the implementing of automated systems can cause unrest in a business setting so it is important that employee relations and communications be kept transparent making this the third human resource function to be affected as the MRP system is implemented.
Two ways in which human resource managers should be prepared to implement this change successfully is to first be fully vested in the resource that is human capital. Human resource managers should be prepared to identify those individuals who have the skill set to complete the transition for the prescribed
References: Essentials of human resource management. S.Tyson. Elsevier. 2008. 464. Human resource management: contemporary approach. Textbook. J.Beardwell, T. Claydon. Pearson. 2010. 710 p. Whitehill. A. M. Japanese management: tradition and transition. Publisher, Routledge, 1991.