What is ekanban

Ekanban is a digital tool for supply chain management. This tool is capable of controlling customer consumption in real time, permitting optimisation of the flow of information and materials between customers and suppliers. At the same time, it creates environments of visibility and transparency and stimulates the collaboration of the supply chain, creating links between the agents.

EKANBAN evolves production and procurement environments, making the supply chain more efficient.

The process

For the operation of ekanban, it is essential for the customers to report their consumption to the suppliers in real time.

How?

The supplier identifies the material using the QR or RFID system labels. The customer reads the labels for each consumption. There are two ways of carrying out the reading:
  • In the case of the QR system, the customer reads the code using a Smartphone.
  • In the case of the RFID system, the reading is automatic thanks to the RFID antennae.
Once the reading is complete, the system automatically works on the cloud, reporting the customer's consumption in real time. Thus, the supplier can plan their production and start to manage a new order based on the customer's real information.
Material identification
Consumption control
Visualization and management of the supply chain in real time

It offers visibility of the stock level and material consumption in real time.

It boosts supplier´s self-management.

It improves the eficiency of internal planning in the enterprise.

It reduces management times.

It guarantees supply, maintaining minimum inventory levels.

It optimizes the management of the consignment warehouse.

It optimizes logistics, reducing considerably the need of urgent transport.

It boosts supplier-customer long-term relationship and creates loyalty.

Applications


Ekanban can be applied among the suppliers and clients inside the Company as well as between different agents along the Supply Chain.