Zum Inhalt springen

Kanban | Freight-Academy™

KAN

GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026

Kanban

Warehouse managers, logistics planners, and production supervisors use Kanban to manage material flow without centralised scheduling: visual signals – traditionally coloured cards, increasingly digital triggers – flag when stock drops below a set threshold and automatically initiate a replenishment order.

Quick Answer

Warehouse managers, logistics planners, and production supervisors use Kanban to manage material flow without centralised scheduling: visual signals – traditionally coloured cards, increasingly…

Developed within the Toyota Production System, Kanban operates on a pure pull basis: each downstream workstation requests exactly what it needs rather than receiving centrally pushed deliveries.

In logistics, the method works best for repetitive, predictable demand – replenishing assembly-line components or restocking pick locations in a warehouse, for instance.

Last updated: 22 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanban_(system)

Category

Logistics Concept

Reading time

1 min

Words

124

Mentioned in

–

Kanban

Related links1 Bereiche/Sections • 5 Links▾

Navigation

Glossary overview
News
Information
Tools
Transport cost calculator

Definition & Explanation

Warehouse managers, logistics planners, and production supervisors use Kanban to manage material flow without centralised scheduling: visual signals – traditionally coloured cards, increasingly digital triggers – flag when stock drops below a set threshold and automatically initiate a replenishment order. Developed within the Toyota Production System, Kanban operates on a pure pull basis: each downstream workstation requests exactly what it needs rather than receiving centrally pushed deliveries. In logistics, the method works best for repetitive, predictable demand – replenishing assembly-line components or restocking pick locations in a warehouse, for instance. It reduces inventory levels and working capital, but relies on stable lead times and consistent order quantities. Unlike MRP-driven systems, Kanban does not rely on forward demand planning; it responds directly to actual consumption.

Next steps

Matching tools and partners

Find HS codeDetermine the tariff number for customsOpen Calculate customs valueWork out import duties and customs valueOpen Compare IncotermsClarify duties, cost and riskOpen Find a matching partnerFreight forwarders and logistics partners worldwideOpen

Related Terms

You might also be interested in these terms

Kanban System (Inventory Management)

A Kanban system is a pull-based method for controlling material flow, where visual signals – traditionally cards or empty containe…

Kanban system

A Kanban system is a pull-based replenishment method from lean manufacturing: material is ordered only when actual consumption occ…

Kanban board (supply chain visualization)

Unlike push-based inventory systems that replenish stock on fixed schedules, a Kanban board follows the pull principle: materials …

Kanban Pull System (Warehouse Management)

In warehouse operations, the Kanban pull system activates the moment a picking area or production line withdraws material: the res…

Kanban Pull Systems (Logistics)

Freight forwarders, warehouse managers and supply chain professionals use Kanban pull systems to trigger material flows across log…

Kanban system (inventory control)

In practice: a storage area empties, the empty Kanban card is sent to the supplier – who then produces or sources immediately. The…

Logistics knowledge straight to your inbox

Free · No password · Never a paywall. Weekly top news and facts from logistics.

I agree to my email being processed for the newsletter. Unsubscribe any time.

Cite this page

Writing a report, paper or LinkedIn post? Use one of these citation templates.

Recommended format: Source: Freight Academy – Kanban (https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/kanban), accessed 2026-09-12
APA style: Freight Academy Editorial Team. (2025). Kanban. Freight Academy. https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/kanban
BibTeX: @misc{kanban2025, title = {Kanban}, author = {{Freight Academy Editorial Team}}, year = {2025}, url = {https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/kanban}, note = {Freight Academy, accessed 2026-09-12} }

Content reviewed and editorially cleared.

Community Questions & Answers

Share your knowledge, ask follow-up questions, or add practical insights to this page. Every contribution is moderated before publication.

No community answers yet. Be the first.

Every contribution is reviewed before publication. Your email is never shown publicly.