Push System

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Push systems are effectively the reverse of pull systems in the sense that products are being produced for which there is no real customer demand and for which the associated waste costs increase for the business.

Push systems are often described as ‘Firefighting!’ environments this may a result of incorrect customer requirement determination, by launching more WIP on the assumption that the customer will want the product eventually.

Push systems work well in environments where there is high customer demands and quick product turnaround times, in effect where there is a need to hold buffer stocks to cover customer demands, distribution system demands, and the supplier demands, hence continuous production runs.

As a result of having too much WIP, it is often argued that this results in waste and failure to meet production targets, unless the lead batches are clearly identified and follow up batches are effectively identified. Too many batches it is argued will result in wastage.

It not an entirely simple matter to discuss which type of production system is the most suitable to your organisation. Most companies adopting a push system would argue that they need their employees to be producing something, or else there would be nothing to sell, whilst pull system adopters would argue the need to produce effectively on time only what is required and for which excessive stocks are not held.

In the realms of this web site we discuss lean manufacturing and the fundamental concepts which can be applied to different production systems.

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