Overview of the POLCA Production Control System
Last Updated 02/2026
English
Finish in
15 mins! Run Time
15 mins! Run Time
Made for for
Employees
only
Employees
only
No Certificate
Provided
Provided
Mobile -
Friendly
Access
Friendly
Access
Description
POLCA is a simple, visual production control system for companies making high-mix, low-volume, and custom products. This card-based system manages the flow of jobs through the shop floor: at each operation, it controls which job should be worked on next to meet delivery targets. POLCA ensures that upstream operations use their capacity effectively by working on jobs that are needed downstream, while preventing excessive work-in-process (WIP) build-ups when bottlenecks appear unexpectedly.
This course explains the key features of POLCA and uses animated examples to demonstrate how POLCA works. It also summarizes the benefits companies get from using POLCA.
This course is intended for managers and employees at all levels, and requires no prior knowledge of POLCA. It will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. It is possible to exit the course at any time and return to resume where you left off.
System Requirements
Windows: latest versions of Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, and Internet ExplorerMac: latest versions of Google Chrome, Safari, and FirefoxMobile: Safari in Apple iOS 10 or later, Google Chrome in Apple iOS 10 or later, and Google Chrome in Android OS 4.4 or later
Reviews (1)
Dennis Wells
"Very good course. One I have and will recommend to co-workers."
5
over 4 years
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. What is POLCA?
III. Operational Benefits of POLCA
IV. Additional Resources
Overview of the POLCA Production Control System
Overview of the POLCA Production Control System
POLCA is a simple, visual production control system for companies making high-mix, low-volume, and custom products. This card-based system manages the flow of jobs through the shop floor: at each operation, it controls which job should be worked on next to meet delivery targets. POLCA ensures that upstream operations use their capacity effectively by working on jobs that are needed downstream, while preventing excessive work-in-process (WIP) build-ups when bottlenecks appear unexpectedly.
This course explains the key features of POLCA and uses animated examples to demonstrate how POLCA works. It also summarizes the benefits companies get from using POLCA.
This course is intended for managers and employees at all levels, and requires no prior knowledge of POLCA. It will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. It is possible to exit the course at any time and return to resume where you left off.
