Push vs. Pull Manufacturing: How to Choose the Right System for Your Shop
Choosing between push and pull systems isn’t just a theoretical exercise – it directly impacts your inventory, lead times, and shop floor efficiency. Here’s a quick, practical breakdown for manufacturers evaluating or refining their approach.
What Is a Push System?
Push manufacturing means building to a forecast or schedule and moving products into stock regardless of immediate demand. This approach can support longer production runs and take advantage of economies of scale. However, it carries risks such as higher carrying costs and excess inventory if forecasts are inaccurate.
What Is a Pull System
Pull manufacturing focuses on producing only in response to actual customer demand or consumption signals, such as Kanban triggers. Advantages include lower inventory levels, faster adaptation to changes, and reduced waste. Pull systems help shops stay lean and avoid tying up capital in unsold products.
Key Differences and When to Use Each
When comparing push and pull systems, consider:
- Inventory levels and carrying costs: Push systems usually hold more finished goods inventory; pull systems aim for minimal on-hand stock.
- Flexibility and responsiveness: Pull systems excel in high-variability demand environments; push systems can benefit stable, predictable demand.
- Forecast dependence vs. real-time triggers: Push relies on demand forecasts; pull uses actual order signals.
For example, automotive or seasonal product lines might lean on push, while custom or made-to-order products work best with pull.
How Cetec ERP Supports Both Push and Pull Approaches
Cetec ERP is designed to handle both approaches. It supports forecast-based planning and MRP for push systems, allowing teams to plan long runs and bulk purchases. For pull environments, Cetec ERP enables demand-driven replenishment, Kanban-style triggers, and real-time work order creation based on actual orders. This flexibility helps shops blend strategies to match different product lines or customer needs.
Key Takeaways:
- Push systems are forecast-driven; pull systems are demand-driven.
- The right choice reduces waste, lowers costs, and improves responsiveness.
- Flexible ERP tools enable manufacturers to adopt either or both approaches.
Choosing push or pull – or a hybrid approach – comes down to your product mix, demand variability, and operational goals. The key is having systems flexible enough to support both when needed.
Want to see how flexible manufacturing workflows look in practice? Explore how Cetec ERP supports both push and pull systems to help you run lean and stay responsive – book a demo today.