Manufacturing resource planning (MRPII) is a modern technique of planning and controlling the operational, engineering and financial resources in a manufacturing industry. It is a company-wide computer-based system designed to simulate the manufacturing control function of the whole organisation and provides an effective tool for management to optimise all resources with the aim of improving efficiency and productivity. This paper presents a critical assessment of MRP II techniques in relation to its implementation in an average manufacturing industry. The paper outlines the evolution of MRP II, its benefits to modern industry and includes a discussion of some modern MRP II packages developed for personal computers. The paper concludes that the adoption of such modern technique is of paramount importance for the growth and sustenance of Australian industries, and that MRP II can be successfully implemented in any industry with careful planning and review.