Which Lean concept is used to level production to match demand?

Which Lean concept is used to level production to match demand?

• A. Kanban
• B. Gemba
• C. Heijunka
• D. SMED

Answer: (C)

Leveling production to match demand is done through Heijunka. It smooths both the volume and the mix of production over time so output follows demand rather than spiking in bursts. By organizing work into a steady cadence and often producing a mix of models in small, predictable lots, Heijunka reduces fluctuations in workload, WIP, and lead times, helping the system run more predictably and pull material as needed. While Kanban supports a smooth pull of material and SMED helps enable smaller batches, the practice specifically focused on smoothing and balancing production to match demand is Heijunka.

Leveling production to match demand is done through Heijunka. It smooths both the volume and the mix of production over time so output follows demand rather than spiking in bursts. By organizing work into a steady cadence and often producing a mix of models in small, predictable lots, Heijunka reduces fluctuations in workload, WIP, and lead times, helping the system run more predictably and pull material as needed. While Kanban supports a smooth pull of material and SMED helps enable smaller batches, the practice specifically focused on smoothing and balancing production to match demand is Heijunka.