Definition: Kanban is a visual management tool used in lean and agile methodologies to visualize work, optimize flow, and improve productivity. It originated from the Toyota Production System (TPS) and is used to manage work in progress (WIP) and ensure smooth workflow.
Visual Representation: Kanban uses a visual board, often a physical or digital board with columns representing different stages of work, and cards representing tasks or work items. This visual representation helps teams to quickly understand the status of work, identify bottlenecks, and manage flow.
Work in Progress (WIP) Limit: Kanban emphasizes the concept of limiting work in progress (WIP) to optimize flow and avoid overloading teams. WIP limits are set for each column on the Kanban board, and teams can only start new work when there is capacity within the WIP limits.
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Pull System: Kanban follows a pull-based system, where work is pulled into the system based on actual demand or capacity, rather than being pushed based on forecasts or schedules. This helps to avoid overproduction, reduces delays, and improves flow.
Continuous Improvement: Kanban encourages a culture of continuous improvement, where teams regularly review the Kanban board, identify bottlenecks or issues, and take actions to improve the process. This helps to drive continuous improvement and optimize flow.
Visualization of Workflow: Kanban provides a visual representation of the workflow, making it easy to identify the status of work, identify dependencies, and track progress. This improves transparency, communication, and collaboration within the team.
Flexibility: Kanban provides flexibility in managing work, as it allows for changes in priorities, resources, and customer requirements. Teams can easily adjust the flow by moving cards on the Kanban board, which helps in managing changing demands.
Collaborative Approach: Kanban promotes a collaborative approach, where team members work together to manage the workflow, identify and resolve issues, and make decisions collectively. This encourages teamwork, communication, and accountability.
Customer-centric: Kanban is customer-centric, as it focuses on delivering value to customers by managing work based on their needs and priorities. This helps in improving customer satisfaction and aligning work with customer expectations.
Versatility: Kanban can be applied to various types of work, including software development, project management, operations, and other knowledge work domains. It can be easily adapted to different team sizes, work types, and industries, making it a versatile approach to managing work.
Note: Kanban is a flexible and powerful approach to managing work, providing teams with visibility, control, and continuous improvement opportunities. It promotes a collaborative and customer-centric approach, and can be applied to a wide range of industries and work types.
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