Lean Supply Chain Management Essentials

CapaCIty ManageMent and shop FLoor ControL 103

Pacemaker process: Any process along a value stream that sets the pace for the entire

stream. (e pacemaker process should not be confused with a bottleneck process, which

necessarily constrains downstream processes due to a lack of capacity.) e pacemaker

process usually is near the customer end of the value stream, often the final assembly cell.

However, if products flow from an upstream process to the end of the stream in a FIFO

sequence, the pacemaker may be at this upstream process.

—Lean Lexicon, 4th edition

So if the pacemaker is not the bottleneck, how can it be the pacemaker? e answer

is simple: because it will run parts at takt time, and all subsequent processes will

therefore need