Kanban guide · Lean foundations
Pull System vs Push System: Differences and Examples
In a push system, work is pushed into a process based on forecasts or plans, whether or not the next step is ready. In a pull system, work is pulled into a process only when there is capacity or real demand. Kanban is a pull system.
Key takeaways
- Push starts work from forecasts; pull starts work from demand or capacity.
- Pull limits WIP and adapts faster to change.
- Kanban is a pull system.
Side by side
| Push | Pull | |
|---|---|---|
| Triggered by | Forecasts, schedules, managers | Actual demand or free capacity |
| Work in progress | Tends to grow | Limited |
| Inventory or queues | Large buffers | Small, controlled buffers |
| Response to change | Slow; plans must be revised | Fast; next pull reflects new priorities |
| Risk | Overproduction and overload | Stock-outs if demand spikes |
Examples
- Push in manufacturing: producing to a monthly forecast and storing the output.
- Pull in manufacturing: a two-bin kanban triggers replenishment only when a bin empties.
- Push in knowledge work: a manager assigns new tasks to people who are already busy.
- Pull in knowledge work: team members take the next item from the Ready column when they finish their current one.
Why pull helps knowledge work
- Limits overload and task switching.
- Shortens cycle time.
- Keeps priorities flexible until the moment work starts.
- Makes capacity visible.
Hybrid approaches
Many organisations push at a high level, for example annual planning, and pull at the team level. Kanban's commitment point separates the two: before it, items are options; after it, the team pulls work at its own pace.
Frequently asked questions
Push vs pull: which one is Kanban?
Kanban is a pull system: work is started only when capacity is available, controlled by WIP limits.
Where does Scrum sit on push vs pull?
Scrum is a pull system at sprint level: the team pulls work into the sprint during Sprint Planning.
What does "pull" mean in push vs pull?
A pull system starts work only when there is real demand or capacity downstream, such as a customer order or a free WIP slot.
What does "push" mean in push vs pull?
A push system starts work based on a forecast or plan and pushes it downstream regardless of whether the next stage is ready.
What is the main difference between push and pull?
Push is driven by forecasts and schedules; pull is driven by actual demand and capacity. Pull keeps inventory and WIP lower but needs fast, reliable processes.
Push vs pull: what is an example of a pull system?
A supermarket restocking shelves as items are sold, or a two-bin kanban that triggers a reorder when a bin empties.
Push vs pull: what is an example of a push system?
A factory building stock to a sales forecast, or a manager assigning tasks to people according to a fixed plan whatever their current workload.
What are the advantages of pull in the push vs pull debate?
Less overproduction and inventory, shorter lead times, less multitasking and problems that surface quickly.
Push vs pull: when is a push system better?
Push can work well when demand is stable and predictable, lead times are long, or economies of scale matter, such as seasonal manufacturing.
Can you combine push and pull?
Yes. Many organisations push to a planned point, such as raw materials or a project backlog, then pull from there, or use pull only for certain stages.
What role do WIP limits play in push vs pull?
When a column is at its limit, nothing new can enter until an item leaves, so work is pulled by downstream capacity rather than pushed in. See WIP limits.