Pull System

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A pull system is where processes are based on customer demand. The concept is that each process is manufacturing each component in line with another department to build a final part to the exact expectation of delivery from the customer.

Because your production process are designed to produce only what is deliverable your business becomes leaner, as result of not holding excessive stock levels of raw, part-finished, and finished materials.

One of main identifier of pull systems comes in the form of having Kanban methods in your production cycle. In essence a Kanban can be described as a visual aid which is used to show that either you have either finished a process, require work/more materials. The aim of having a visual aid is that the person who either feeds work off you or gives you work, becomes apparent of your needs quickly. Kanban is a concept that lends itself to high turnaround industries, but it can be applied to other environments. We shall be discussing Kanban in more detail in other areas of this web-site.

Unfortunately pull systems do not lend themselves to all business types, because of product types, lead times and any stock holding arrangements with customers.

However by having pull systems in some of your production processes, you will be able to reduce your lead times , and perhaps associated costs.

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