Which statement describes push and pull supply chain strategies?

• A. Push uses forecast-driven production; pull uses actual customer demand to drive production.
• B. Push uses actual demand; pull uses forecast.
• C. Push and pull are the same concept.
• D. Push uses just-in-time; pull uses batch production.

Answer: (A)

Push and pull strategies describe how production is started. In a push system, production and distribution are planned in advance based on forecasted demand, so products are pushed through the supply chain ahead of actual orders. In a pull system, production is triggered by actual customer demand and replenishment signals, so items are pulled through the system as orders come in. The statement matches this distinction by saying push uses forecast-driven production and pull uses actual customer demand to drive production, which is the classic definition. This helps explain why forecasts set the pace in a push model, while real orders and consumption signals control the pace in a pull model. The other options mix up these signals or imply they’re the same, or incorrectly tie push to just-in-time, which isn’t the standard pairing.