Kanban
Kanban is a visual system for managing workflow at the individual, team, and even organizational level. It was originally developed as part of the Lean Manufacturing methodology by Toyota in the late 1940s, with the goal of improving manufacturing efficiency by limiting work-in-progress (WIP) and encouraging just-in-time (JIT) production. Here is a detailed look into its history, principles, and applications:
History
- 1940s - 1950s: Taiichi Ohno, an industrial engineer at Toyota, is credited with developing the Kanban system. The term "Kanban" translates from Japanese as "visual card" or "signboard."
- 1950s - 1960s: The system was formalized and became a key element of the Toyota Production System (TPS). It was designed to control inventory levels, reduce overproduction, and improve workflow.
- 1970s: The success of the Kanban system led to its adoption beyond Toyota, spreading across Japanese industries.
- 1980s: With the publication of books like "The Machine That Changed the World" by James P. Womack, Daniel T. Jones, and Daniel Roos, the Kanban system gained international attention, particularly in the West.
- 2000s onwards: Kanban evolved from manufacturing into a broader project management and software development methodology, thanks to pioneers like David J. Anderson, who adapted Kanban for knowledge work.
Core Principles
- Visualize the Workflow: Work items are represented visually on a Kanban Board, showing their progress through different stages.
- Limit Work in Progress (WIP): By setting limits on the number of items in each workflow stage, Kanban helps to focus on completing tasks before starting new ones, reducing bottlenecks and increasing throughput.
- Manage Flow: Monitoring and optimizing the flow of work to ensure smooth and continuous delivery.
- Make Process Policies Explicit: Clearly defining the process policies and rules so that everyone understands how work should be done.
- Implement Feedback Loops: Regular meetings and reviews to ensure continuous improvement.
- Improve Collaboratively, Evolve Experimentally: Teams should work together to improve the system incrementally based on data and feedback.
Applications
Kanban is not limited to manufacturing:
- Software Development: Kanban helps teams manage development processes, visualize backlogs, and manage the flow of features or fixes.
- IT Operations: To manage ongoing tasks and incidents.
- Marketing: To track campaigns, content creation, and other marketing activities.
- Personal Productivity: Individuals use Kanban boards for personal task management.
Advantages
- Reduces waste by focusing on work that provides value.
- Enhances flow by limiting WIP and managing bottlenecks.
- Improves team collaboration and communication through visualization.
- Offers flexibility to adapt to changing priorities without disrupting the workflow.
External Links
See Also