Which process model often leads to excess inventory and waste?

The push process model is often associated with excess inventory and waste because it relies on forecasting demand and producing goods in advance of actual consumption. In this model, production is driven by anticipated sales rather than real-time data from customer demand. When forecasts are inaccurate or demand fluctuates, this can lead to overproduction, resulting in surplus inventory.

Excess inventory requires additional storage space, handling, and management, which ultimately create waste within the system. Products can become obsolete or deteriorate while stored, compounding the inefficiencies caused by the push model. In contrast, the pull process or continuous flow models aim to respond to actual demand and can mitigate these issues by producing only what is needed when it is needed. Demand flow also seeks to align production more closely with customer demand, further reducing potential waste.