Milk run

Milk run is a method for moving materials between facilities by routing vehicles to make multiple pick-ups and drop-offs at many facilities. Rather than waiting to accumulate a truckload for direct shipment between two facilities, milk-run vehicles make frequent pick-ups and drop-offs connecting a number of facilities. This can reduce inventories and response times along a value stream.

Source checked1/1 values · 2026-10-25Methodology

Specification

1 source

Kind	methodology

Study notes

Milk runs connect a number of facilities through frequent pick-ups and drop-offs.
The document contrasts milk runs with waiting to accumulate a truckload for direct shipment between two facilities.
The document states that milk runs between facilities are similar in concept to material handling routes within facilities.
The document lists Lean Logistics and Material Handling under "See".