Pull

A method of controlling the flow of resources by replacing what has been consumed. Make what the customer needs, when it is needed, in the quantity needed.

Supermarket (SM)

A pull production technique. Materials in a supermarket are pulled by the “customer. A supply of parts are stored near the cell / line and as these parts are used, they are replenished by the upstream process.

There are three type of supermarket exist in the shop floor.

Material SM : The supermarket that keeps the production line materials.

WIP SM : The supermarket that keeps the semi finished good for the next process.

FG SM : The supermarket that keeps the finished goods that is ready to shipment for the customer.

Kanban

A Japanese term, Kanban is the cornerstone of the just-in-time pull system. The meaning of kanban is signal in lean concept. In pull systems, it often refers to a card or other physical device used to signal the previous operation that it is authorized to produce the next unit. A means of communicating need for product or service.

In push system, the information are moved together with process and materials at the same direction. But in pull system, the information moved in reverse direction of materials and process.