{"id":32999,"date":"2026-07-17T09:44:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T06:44:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bpi-group.com.ua\/uncategorized\/the-kanban-system-inventory-management-and-pull-production\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T10:43:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T07:43:00","slug":"kanban-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bpi-group.com.ua\/en\/blog\/kanban-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"The Kanban System: Inventory Management and Pull Production"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Kanban<\/strong> system is a lean manufacturing tool for managing inventory using the \u201cpull\u201d principle: each stage produces or replenishes exactly as much as the next stage consumes\u2014no more and no less. A Kanban card (or a slot on the board) serves as the signal, making the entire material flow transparent and controllable.<\/p>\n

This page brings together everything you need to know about Kanban in one place: what it is, how a pull system differs from a push system, how cards work, and how to calculate the required inventory levels. You\u2019ll also find practical resources and training on implementing the Kanban system<\/a> here.<\/p>\n

What Is the Kanban System?<\/h2>\n

The word \u201ckanban\u201d means \u201ccard\u201d or \u201csignal\u201d in Japanese. Essentially, it\u2019s a simple visual cue: when the next process (or customer) takes a certain amount of product, the previous process receives a signal to produce or replenish exactly that amount. This way, production operates on a \u201cpull\u201d basis and avoids the worst kind of waste\u2014overproduction. Instead of producing for inventory, the stages respond to actual demand.<\/p>\n

Kanban is one of the pillars of lean manufacturing and the \u201cjust-in-time\u201d (JIT) approach. With the Kanban system<\/strong>, visual management is introduced into the workspace: inventory, queues, and deviations become visible, allowing for a faster response to problems. The method applies equally to materials on the production floor as well as to restocking in the warehouse or office. The main value of the method is its simplicity: it relies on visual cues that every employee can understand, making it easy to adopt.<\/p>\n

Push-and-pull system: What’s the difference?<\/h2>\n

In a push<\/strong> system, production is planned \u201cin advance\u201d based on forecasts, and products are pushed further down the production line regardless of actual consumption. The result is excess inventory, work in progress, and tied-up capital. In a pull<\/strong> system, the opposite is true: the impetus for action is actual consumption at the next stage, and Kanban is the mechanism that implements this pull. In practice, the transition to a pull system reduces inventory and makes actual demand\u2014rather than forecasts\u2014the primary driver of production. This issue is discussed in detail in the article on the difference between pull and push systems<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How Kanban Works<\/h2>\n

The method is based on a closed-loop cycle (kanban loop) between the consumer unit and the supplier unit:<\/p>\n