CPIM Practice Exam 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Planners have direct control over the production process through firm planned orders and released orders. Firm planned orders are those that have been confirmed and scheduled for production, indicating that they are definite and will be executed as part of the production plan. This means the planner can manage resources, labor, and materials for these orders effectively, thereby influencing the production schedule directly.

Released orders, which are orders that have been generated and communicated to the production floor, are also under a planner's direct control. These orders initiate the manufacturing process and the planner can ensure that these orders are given priority based on factors such as inventory levels, customer demand, and deadlines.

In contrast, scheduled receipts, while they impact planning decisions, are primarily logistics or supply chain measures that involve incoming materials and do not fall under the planner's direct control in the way that firm planned and released orders do. Other order types may influence planning but do not allow for the same level of active management as the correct answer indicates.

Therefore, the focus on firm planned and released orders defines the scope of a planner's direct influence in the planning and execution of production activities.