QAD 2017 Enterprise Edition > User Guides > Planning and Scheduling Workbenches > Component Availability > Introduction
  
Introduction
MSW helps you create a balanced production plan, typically at the departmental level, balancing demand, supply, and capacity. PSW helps you create a production schedule that optimizes use of resources on the shop floor. Before you release a production plan or schedule, you want to ensure that you have enough materials to support the plan/schedule. You can use the Component Availability capabilities built into the MSW/PSW to do this.