MRP Generation from Sales Order Demands

It seems that the MRP generation uses the sales order date as the required date for its calculations.  It seems to me that the ship date or promise date from the sales order would be the correct thing to use.  The sales order date we assume to be the date it was entered.  Right now, the module is useless to us.  Does anyone have a similiar experience or can suggest a work around to get the correct date?  Sage 100 ERP (200) version 4.5