Kanban Replenishment Loop

The Kanban Replenishment Loop is the pull-based cycle at the heart of the platform: a kanban card authorizes replenishing a specific item in a specific quantity, signals when stock is drawn down, travels back toward the point that supplies it, carries materials forward, and re-triggers to start the next lap.

This feature is derived from the Kanban Cards module.

What the loop does

• Signals need. When stock runs low, a card is put into circulation (often by a scan at the reorder point), signalling that the item needs replenishing.
• Travels to be supplied. The demand signal moves from the point of use back to the point that supplies it — where it is accepted, and replenishment (procurement or production) begins.
• Carries materials back. Once materials are ready, the loaded card moves forward to the point of use.
• Re-triggers. When the materials are consumed, demand is re-triggered and the card begins its next lap.

A card runs one lap at a time; each lap is a cycle through the loop. The Kanban Cards module page describes the lap’s states, the disciplined forward-progress rule (currently being tightened), and the guarantees.

Where it connects

The replenishment loop is the source of demand for the rest of the platform: individual card signals are collated by the Demand Collation feature into production requests, which Order Management then services.

Personas involved

• Inventory Manager (Irene) / Shop Worker (Sam) — scan cards at the reorder point, putting demand into circulation.
• Procurement Manager (David) — acts on the demand the loop produces.

Related

• Kanban Cards module — the full lifecycle and guarantees.
• Demand Collation — how card signals become production requests.