Definition
Time units directly related to the time of beat: Pitch = number of pieces in the time of beat × container.
In detail
Pitch is the product of takt time and the number of parts per container, used to determine the rhythm and batch size of material replenishment. It addresses the question of "how to balance replenishment frequency and handling costs in a pull system." Unlike takt time, which is the production rhythm, pitch is the rhythm of material flow. Typical outputs include material replenishment batch sizes, replenishment cycles, and container capacity design, serving as key parameters in kanban system design.
Example in practice
On a certain assembly line, the takt time is 60 seconds, and each box holds 20 pieces, so the pitch is 20 minutes. Based on this, the warehouse replenishes one box to the line side every 20 minutes, avoiding excessive line-side inventory and reducing handling frequency. After implementation, line-side area was reduced by 30%, and stock-out incidents decreased.