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CMA Intermediate · Operations Management and Strategic Management · Lean Operations and JIT

In a Kanban-based pull production system, what normally authorises an upstream work centre to start producing a batch of parts?

Production is authorised by a Kanban card or signal released when the downstream process uses up parts. This makes upstream work replace only what has been consumed, so output follows actual demand rather than a pushed schedule or forecast, which limits overproduction and inventory.

  1. AA weekly master production schedule issued by the planning office
  2. BA Kanban card or signal released when the downstream process consumes partsCorrect
  3. CA forecast of next quarter's sales prepared by the marketing team
  4. DA supervisor's decision to keep machines busy at all times

Explanation

In a pull system the downstream process withdraws parts and the released Kanban signals the upstream centre to replenish only what was consumed. A schedule pushed from a central plan is characteristic of push systems. Forecast-driven or machine-utilisation-driven production creates the overproduction that JIT seeks to remove.

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