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QAD Kanban Series: Set Up
Posted on: September 17, 2025 | By: Alexa Leitner | QAD Business Process
This is the second in a four-part series of blogs that will discuss QAD Kanban. In the first blog we discussed an overview of Kanban in QAD, highlighting benefits and use cases. In this blog, and the remainder of the series, we will discuss the system set up needed to implement Kanban, the system execution and transactions related to using Kanban, and finish the series with managing the Kanban processes in your environment.
Base and Control Data Set Up
Before using Kanban in QAD, you must have the data set up below (some are optional depending on your process):
Master Data Elements – The required master data elements to use QAD Kanban are Sites, Locations, and Items. Optionally, you may need to have Routings, Suppliers, Bill of Materials, Dispatch ID Sequence, and EDI Setup Information in your environment if needed for your process.
Generalized Codes – Optionally, Generalized Codes can be set up to specify valid values for some fields. This gives you flexibility in organizing and implementing functions as you can define values that are meaningful to your business.
Setting Up Kanban Control
The first step to setting up Kanban in QAD is Kanban Control (17.24). Within Kanban Control you will specify several system level parameters that determine how processing is done and set default values for various programs.
Some of the key fields include the Average Demand Template and Safety Stock Template, which you can select defaults for the system to use when it calculates the average demand or safety stock. Print Kanban ID Barcode and Print Item Number Barcode are used for default print settings when setting up new Kanban records.
The second set up Kanban Control is by hitting the “Next” button in the bottom right which brings you to the Kanban Transaction Control screen. In this screen you will specify how the system prompts and enforces certain situations within the Kanban process.
The third set up Kanban Control is also hitting the “Next” button in the bottom right which will take you to the Kanban Transaction Event Control screen. This is where you will set sequence enforcement settings and auto print values for several different events.
Setting Up Kanban Item Master Record
The next step in setting up Kanban in QAD is using Kanban Item Master Maintenance (17.1.1) to identify the items that are supplied using Kanban loops. You will also set default values for loop and process records. This must be done before you can associate the item with Kanban loops and the set up of Kanban processes.
Setting Up Kanban Processes
The next set up of Kanban in QAD is to set up Kanban Processes using Kanban Process Maintenance (17.1.3). These Kanban Processes are required if you are using Kanban loops that are supplied directly by a manufacturing process instead of an external supplier or from the inventory of a supermarket.
Depending on your manufacturing set up, you may use a combination of Kanban Process Maintenance (17.1.3), Process Calendar Maintenance (17.1.13), and Process Item Operation Rollup (17.1.12) to define the process task.
Setting Up Kanban Supermarkets
The next step for Kanban set up in QAD is setting up Kanban Supermarkets using Supermarket Maintenance (17.1.2). A supermarket is a controlled and managed inventory point for in-process goods or finished items. It is typically supplied by a Kanban loop and can also serve as the source for other loops.
In Supermarket Maintenance you will define the Site, the Supermarket Name, Location Type (either INV: Finished Items, or WIP: Work in process goods), and optionally the Inventory Location.
Setting Up Kanban Loops
The next step in setting up Kanban in QAD is to set up Kanban Loops using Kanban Master Maintenance (17.1.4). You can also copy from existing loops with similar information using Kanban Master Copy (17.1.8).
The Kanban Master Maintenance is typically used to set up base data for the loop although you can manually size Kanban and supermarkets using other programs. A Kanban loop is the workflow that controls inventory traffic between a supplying source and a consuming destination via the use of Kanban cards. The consuming destination for a loop is a supermarket. For example, another supermarket can provide WIP items, subassemblies, raw materials, or finished goods to another supermarket. A manufacturing process with a series of operations can provide inventory to a supermarket. Also, an external supplier can supply inventory to a supermarket.
There are multiple sets within Kanban Master Maintenance which include:
- Initial Frame – which includes the basic information about the Kanban loop including the Item, supermarket it supplies, and the source type.
- Source Master Data – which identifies the source of the item. As mentioned, this can be a manufacturing process, external supplier, or another supermarket.
- Supermarket Item Detail – which includes details on quantities and limits. It also includes safety stock information which can be entered manually or specified a system template to use.
Conclusion
At a high level, we discussed the necessary set up as it pertains to Kanban in QAD including prerequisites, Kanban Control, Kanban Item Records, Kanban Processes, Kanban Supermarkets, and Kanban Loops. Each of these screens can be set up in several different ways or combinations in order to meet the needs of your manufacturing environment. Some screens may have additional set ups to use all of QAD’s capabilities to enhance your Kanban functionality, but the screens discussed today will give you a basic direction of how Kanban functions inside QAD. Below is an example of what a simplified Kanban set up could look like in your environment.
In the next two parts of the blog series, we will discuss Kanban execution of transactions and screens to use Kanban in everyday production, and Kanban management which will include tips and tricks to help manage your Kanban process.
Next Steps
If you’re ready to elevate your team’s QAD expertise, we’re here to help. Logan Consulting specializes in QAD training tailored to your organization’s unique needs. Contact us today at info@loganconsulting.com or call (312) 345-8817 to learn more about how we can support your team’s growth and development.
