Kanban Bin
A kanban bin is a physical container in a pull-based replenishment system whose status—full, in use, or empty—acts as the signal to refill material. In a two-bin setup, working stock is consumed from one bin while a second bin holds reserve stock until replenishment arrives, enabling visual control and precise trigger points.
On a shop floor, kanban bins sit at the point of use for fast-moving or class C items like fasteners, small components, and bulk supplies. Operators consume from the active bin until empty, rotate to the reserve bin, and send the empty bin back for refill. Each bin carries identification data—material number, storage location, quantity, barcode, or RFID—turning an empty state into a precise replenishment trigger. In SAP-style execution, bins tie to a supply area and control cycle; a full bin posts a goods receipt, an empty bin triggers a procurement proposal. Warehousing uses visual boards or status systems to show circulating bins, bottlenecks, and states, enabling supervisors to monitor consumption and trigger refill impulses. Bin size comes from usage rate, replenishment lead time, and a safety factor, rounded to pack or pallet multiples and reviewed periodically.
What is the core control logic of a kanban bin?
The bin itself is the consumption sensor; when it reaches its empty or threshold state, that physical condition becomes the replenishment signal in the control cycle.
Why use two bins instead of one?
Two bins separate working stock from reserve stock, so production can continue while replenishment is in transit, reducing line stoppage risk compared with a single-container system.
How does a kanban bin differ from ordinary storage?
Ordinary storage is passive inventory; a kanban bin is an actively controlled inventory unit linked to a replenishment rule, identification data, and a visual or system-generated trigger.