3. Generic principle

Between a production station (upstream station) and a consumer station (downstream station), parts are deposited in containers. Each full container is fitted with a label (a Kanban). This label specifies the product number, its origin and the container capacity. It is considered a production order (PO). Each time the downstream station uses a container, it sends the label back to the originating station, where, placed on a board, it joins the production order queue.

The label waiting on the board triggers the filling of an empty container, and is attached to it by the upstream station. This is the principle of demand triggering supply (manufacturing), hence the term "pull flow".

If downstream demand is interrupted, no labels are returned to the upstream station, and production stops for lack of a production order, so WIP is automatically...