What is Kanban?

Learn al you need about Kanban and how to use it for your company.

Kanban is a method for managing and visualizing work as it moves through a process. It was developed in the 1950s by Toyota as a way to improve and optimize its manufacturing processes. In recent years, Kanban has gained popularity in a variety of industries as a way to manage projects and workflow.

Kanban is based on the idea of visualizing work as it moves through a process and using this visualization to identify and eliminate bottlenecks and improve flow. This is typically done using a Kanban board, which is a physical or digital board that consists of columns and cards. Each card represents a piece of work, and the columns represent the different stages of the process. As work moves through the process, the cards are moved from one column to the next.

One of the key principles of Kanban is “just in time” production, which means producing or delivering only what is needed, when it is needed. This is achieved by limiting the amount of work in progress (WIP) at each stage of the process, which helps to reduce waste and improve flow.

Kanban is often used in conjunction with Lean principles, which emphasize the minimization of waste and the maximization of value. It is also often used in conjunction with Agile software development methods, such as Scrum, which emphasize the iterative development of software through the collaboration of cross-functional teams.

Kanban is known for its flexibility and adaptability. It can be applied to a wide variety of processes and industries, and it can be easily customized to meet the needs of different organizations and projects. It is also known for its focus on continuous improvement and the ability to adapt to changing requirements and conditions.

How can you implement Kanban?

There are a few steps you can follow to implement Kanban in your organization:

1. Identify the process: The first step in implementing Kanban is to identify the process you want to improve. This could be a manufacturing process, a software development process, or any other process that you want to make more efficient and effective.
2. Define the stages of the process: Next, you’ll need to define the stages of the process and the steps involved in each stage. This will help you to understand how work flows through the process and identify any bottlenecks or areas where improvements can be made.
3. Create a Kanban board: Once you have a clear understanding of the process, you can create a Kanban board to visualize it. A Kanban board typically consists of columns and cards. Each card represents a piece of work, and the columns represent the different stages of the process. You can use physical or digital tools to create the board.
4. Set limits on work in progress (WIP): One of the key principles of Kanban is limiting the amount of work in progress (WIP) at each stage of the process. This helps to reduce waste and improve flow. To set limits on WIP, you’ll need to determine how much work can be handled at each stage and set limits accordingly.
5. Start using the Kanban board: Once you have your Kanban board set up, you can begin using it to manage your work. As work moves through the process, the cards on the board should be moved from one column to the next. This will help you to see the status of each piece of work and identify any bottlenecks or problems that need to be addressed.
6. Monitor and optimize the process: The final step in implementing Kanban is to continuously monitor and optimize the process. This might involve analyzing data from the Kanban board, gathering feedback from team members, and making adjustments to improve flow and efficiency.

By following these steps, you can implement Kanban in your organization and start using it to manage and improve your processes.