Bedarfsgesteuerte

Bedarfsgesteuerte is a term used in operations management to describe processes and controls that are triggered by actual demand rather than forecasted demand. It is a core principle of lean management and pull-based systems, where supply is aligned with consumption.

In practice, bedarfsgesteuerte approaches are implemented in production, procurement, and inventory management to ensure that inputs and outputs respond to real demand. Production is initiated by customer orders or consumption signals (for example Kanban cards or real-time usage data), rather than by a fixed schedule. This tends to reduce work-in-process and finished-goods inventories, lowers carrying costs, and improves capital turnover. Common methods include Kanban-based pull systems, just-in-time replenishment, and demand-driven planning.

In procurement, bedarfsgesteuerte procurement means purchasing quantities in response to actual usage or stock levels, rather than maintaining large safety stock based on forecasts. In warehousing and logistics, it implies replenishment triggered by pick data or consumption rates, enabling lean flows and reduced idle capacity.

Benefits of bedarfsgesteuerte approaches include reduced inventory, shorter lead times, higher flexibility, better alignment of supply with actual demand, and improved cash flow. Risks and challenges involve the need for reliable demand signals and robust information systems; potential stockouts or production stoppages if demand surges or data are inaccurate; and the requirement for coordinated planning across suppliers, production, and logistics, particularly during demand volatility or supply chain disruptions.

The concept draws on pull systems and the Toyota Production System and is related to terms such as pull production, Kanban, lean manufacturing, and just-in-time.