A methodology for the design and operation of pull‐based supply chains

Purpose – The aim of this article is to propose a methodology for the design and operation of a just‐in‐time coordination mechanism to control the flow of materials in the supply chain.Design/methodology/approach – A literature review of the problem is presented and a new supply chain coordination mechanism is then proposed.Findings – The paper reveals that the one aspect not deeply studied yet in the supply chain management is their short‐term control. A simple kanban coordination mechanism demonstrates that is practical in the flow coordination of materials among the different nodes (companies) in a supply chain.Practical implications – This paper shows recent approaches in the supply chain context, useful to companies looking forward new opportunities in coordination systems for the supply chain.Originality/value – The paper begins with a review of previous research in the material flow control in the supply chain. The authors then propose a new mechanism and an optimization methodology to deal with th...