The Material Proxy Planning is used in environments where a variety of similar materials can be used to create a parent item. Planners determine which components will be used to create a parent item by each item's specifications rather than the parent item's bill of material, parts lists, drawings, etc. The planner creates a short term relationship between a set of materials and parent items according to the specifications required by the parent item and those provided by the materials. The decision as to which material will be used on a work order is deferred until the work order is released.