How to relieve your purchasing team with Kanban C-parts management and reduce process costs
In purchasing, C-parts are often seen as “the small items”. But in many mid-sized companies they make up a large share of SKUs and create significant administrative workload:
- Inquiry process
- placing orders
- following up on delivery dates
- coordinating reorders
- avoiding stockouts
Christoph Nieder-Entgelmeier, Sales at the Daniel Gruppe, explains how a customized Kanban system removes this constant pressure from day-to-day operations and makes your supply chain completely predictable.
Why many mid-sized companies underestimate C-parts in purchasing
Many companies assess procurement strictly by purchase volume. C-parts quickly fall through the cracks: they are low-cost, often standardised, and seem interchangeable. In practice, the challenge is not the part—it is the process. Managing hundreds or thousands of items takes time in purchasing and in related roles.
With our Kanban, you stay focused on what matters
No more counting and ordering manually: one scan is enough and the system forwards the order automatically. Your purchasing team saves valuable time. We are happy to advise you on your individual Kanban solution.
Phone +49 5741 3480-0
Email: info@daniel-gruppe.de
Unit price vs. process costs: where companies really lose money
For C-parts, the unit price is rarely the key factor. The deciding factor is hidden process costs. A tailored Kanban system reduces your process costs in very practical ways:
- Significantly fewer manual ordering steps
- Less internal coordination and fewer technical questions
- Fewer internal trips (searching for material, walking to the warehouse, clarifying questions),
- Drastically lower risk of missing material and last-minute production workarounds
Kanban for special and drawing parts: keep your custom fasteners in view at all times
Many people associate Kanban mainly with standard and catalog parts. But Nieder-Entgelmeier makes it clear: „Kanban can also work perfectly for specialized custom drawing parts.“
Two points are crucial:
- We coordinate demand peaks individually
Seasonal fluctuations are not a deal-breaker. If you tell us in advance when demand will rise, we can prepare the system accordingly.
- We actively manage replenishment
For specific drawing parts, fast replenishment is essential when needed. Framework agreements and defined thresholds help, so the system reorders automatically once a trigger level is reached.
When everything works together, you gain supply reliability—without your purchasing team having to watch inventory all the time.
How Kanban C-parts management works
Barcode, box, stock: Kanban can be that simple. The technology behind our Kanban logistics is robust and does not require a complex setup:
The two-bin principle
The Kanban system principle is deliberately simple—and that is exactly why it is stable in everyday operations. We provide the items in labelled bins with a defined quantity:
- Employees take material from bin 1.
- As soon as bin 1 is empty, it is reported via scan.
- In the meantime, production continues using bin 2.
- We refill the empty bin and return it during the next regular delivery cycle.
This creates a seamless transition: the second bin always acts as a reliable safety stock that buys time for active replenishment.
Conclusion: reduce your process costs with Kanban
A Kanban system reduces process costs because it simplifies the organisation behind the scenes. The Kanban system plans replenishment automatically and reduces manual ordering work. The simple scanning technology is especially practical for mid-sized companies.
Kanban support
Relieve your purchasing team with the right Kanban logistics
The biggest impact comes when Kanban takes pressure off your day-to-day work: you no longer have to keep an eye on stock all the time because replenishment is clearly defined. Interested? We look forward to talking with you.
Yes. Daniel Gruppe actively manages inventories and replenishment lead times with a Kanban system. This applies to standard parts as well as special and drawing parts.
Not every company needs Kanban. If a business has very low C-parts turnover or demand is unpredictable, the effort may not pay off. Above a certain annual volume, a Kanban system reduces workload and saves process costs.
To kick off a Kanban system, we initially require your approximate annual demand requirements per item. Based on this data, we calculate the estimated weekly consumption and define the optimal bin filling quantities and buffer stock configurations. The Daniel Gruppe provides you with all necessary bins, custom racking solutions, and mobile scanning devices. The system transmits your stock levels automatically via scanning. A permanent active localized internet connection is not mandatory for this process.
Knowledge that connects
Expertise from engineering, purchasing and manufacturing – written clearly for decision-makers in SMEs.
