What must be used in the system to plan the requirements for different subcontractors separately?

To plan the requirements for different subcontractors separately, MRP areas are essential. An MRP area allows for more granular control over planning strategies, as it can define different planning parameters tailored to specific segments of the supply chain, such as different subcontractors.

In a typical manufacturing environment, subcontractors may have varying lead times, order quantities, and even distinct materials or components that they handle. By using MRP areas, the system can generate procurement proposals specifically for each subcontractor instead of applying a one-size-fits-all approach. This substantially improves the accuracy of planning and can lead to better inventory management and timely procurement decisions.

The other options, while relevant to production planning in general, serve different purposes. Production versions focus on managing different production methods for a material, the planning plant defines the organizational units in which production planning takes place, and storage locations represent specific areas within a plant for storing materials, but none provide the level of specificity for subcontractor requirements as MRP areas do.