Kanban Quantity Calculator
Determine the number of kanban cards needed based on daily demand, lead time, safety stock, and container size.
Inputs
units
days
%
units
Results
Kanban Cards Needed
24
Total WIP Inventory1,200 units
Average Inventory600 units
Days of Supply2.4 days
Replenishments per Day10
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the average daily demand for the part in units.
- Set the replenishment lead time in days from order to delivery.
- Input the safety stock factor (typically 0.1-0.3) to buffer against demand variation.
- Enter the standard container size in units.
- Review the recommended number of kanban cards and total buffer inventory in units.
How the result changes with Daily Demand
| Daily Demand | Kanban Cards Needed |
|---|---|
| 10,001 | 481 |
| 35,001 | 1,681 |
| 65,000 | 3,120 |
| 90,000 | 4,320 |
What each input means
- Daily Demand
- Average daily customer demand in units.
- Lead Time
- Time to replenish one container including production and transport.
- Safety Stock
- Safety stock percentage to buffer variability (typically 10-30%).
- Container Size
- Number of parts per kanban container or bin.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersDaily Demand = 500, Lead Time = 2, Safety Stock = 20, Container Size = 50 = 4 input(s) provided
- Calculate Kanban Cards NeededKanban Cards Needed24 = 24
- Calculate Total WIP InventoryTotal WIP Inventory1200 = 1200
- Calculate Average InventoryAverage Inventory600 = 600
Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.
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