Type B Pull Systems: What is Sequenced Pull and How does it work? (AI generated)

What is sequenced pull and when do we use it? Sequenced pull involves two processes that are connected by a visually apparent area containing a defined limited quantity of parts, jobs, or units of work in sequence. The supplying process dictates the sequence of work; the customer or downstream process builds or works in this identical sequence. This type of pull system is very flexible and can be used in just about any type of industry- manufacturing, healthcare, or office/business process.
Sequenced pull or FIFO lanes are typically used when a buffer is needed between two processes because of cycle time variation or other small reliability or variability issues. Larger FIFO lanes can be used for feeding batch processes like heat treat and paint. FIFO lanes can be used within a workcell or assembly line in which case they would be considered SWIP or standard WIP, or they could be used as a buffer between departments.
Let’s consider an example from a laboratory. Let’s suppose we are running a lab that processes samples and there is a multi-step process. Here we have 3 processes connected by FIFO lanes from a lab. These are entering orders, performing lab analysis on a specimen, and creating and submitting a written report of the results. As orders are entered they are placed in First in First Out sequence into the FIFO lane; The lab technicians pull from the FIFO lane in the same sequence, do their work, and then pass their work into the next FIFO to reporting. If a FIFO lane is full, this is a visual signal to stop feeding it. Perhaps, in this case it may be used to move resources around such that more people begin working on the lab analysis portion to reduce the queue in the FIFO. As this reduces to a certain pre-determined level, we move the resources back to continue entering orders.
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