The JIT system works with flow shop, which uses specialized resources; in this case, the work follows a fixed path. While the MRP system uses job shop, which uses general purpose resources, it is highly flexible. Between the MRP there are two kinds of differences, the usage and design differences. The MRP design profile points out that it has high production flexibility, there is a high degree of order tracking. This system needs high data accuracy and lots of computer use. As well there is high schedule flexibility and a changeable organization of the shop floor.
About the usage features, we can say that the production lead time is very long and the production batch size is large. This system is focus in the labor resource efficiency. The inventory levels with the MRP are large and the set-up tine is averaged
