Push V Pull
This production system makes products based on forecasts and pushes them forward.
What is a push system?
This visual space on the floor limits how much inventory is allowed.
What is a kanban square?
A batch of units produced before switching products is called this.
What is a lot size?
In JIT, employees are treated as this rather than just labor
What are problem-solvers (or valuable contributors)?
In services, customers waiting in line are a form of this.
What is inventory (or work-in-process)?
This production system only produces when the next station signals demand.
What is a pull system?
This type of kanban acts like a fuel light in your car.
What is a signal kanban?
The time required to switch a machine from one product to another.
What is setup time?
Small groups of employees who meet to solve process issues.
What are quality circles?
The total time required to complete a service from start to finish.
What is cycle time?
This is the biggest risk of push production.
What is overproduction (or excess inventory)?
This variable protects against uncertainty in the kanban formula.
What is safety stock?
Preparation done while the machine is still running.
What is external setup?
Management style where decisions are made by consensus.
What is bottom-round management
Cross-trained employees in services are called this type of workers.
What are multifunction workers?
In a pull system, production begins with this.
What is customer demand?
This visual space on the floor limits how much inventory is allowed
What is a kanban square?
Preparation that requires the machine to be stopped.
What is internal setup?
In JIT, managers act as this instead of commanders.
What are coaches or facilitators?
Balancing appointments throughout the day supports this lean principle.
What is uniform loading?
This effect describes how demand variability increases as you move up the supply chain.
What is the bullwhip effect?
Reducing the number of these reduces inventory in the system.
What are kanban cards (or containers)?
The ultimate lean goal for lot sizes.
What is single-unit flow?
This philosophy extends respect beyond employees to suppliers.
What is long-term supplier partnership?
JIT in services primarily reduces this experience for customers.
What is waiting time?