Pull system in Kanban means:
Work is started only when the next person or stage has capacity.
It is the opposite of a push system, where managers or upstream teams keep assigning work even when people are already overloaded.
Simple explanation
| System | Meaning | Problem / Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Push system | Work is pushed to people whether they have capacity or not. | Creates overload, multitasking, bottlenecks. |
| Pull system | Team members pull new work only when they are ready. | Improves flow, focus, and delivery speed. |
Kanban example
Board:
To Do → In Progress → Review → Done
Suppose In Progress WIP limit = 3.
If there are already 3 items in In Progress, the team cannot pull another item from To Do.
They must first finish something and move it to Review or Done.
Simple class example
“In Kanban, we do not keep starting new work just because work exists. We pull work only when there is available capacity.”
Example with Review
If Review WIP limit = 2 and Review already has 2 items, the developer should not push another completed item into Review. Instead, the team may help clear Review first.
Teaching line
Pull system means: finish work before starting more work.
It protects the team from overload and keeps work flowing smoothly.
REF: AI Tools as is
