Chapter 8
Improving Workflow and Eliminating Waste with Kanban and Lean
IN THIS CHAPTER
Getting up to speed on Kanban
Understanding and adopting Lean principles
Putting Kanban and Lean into practice
Deciding whether Kanban and Lean are the best solutions for your organization
Kanban and Lean started out as a Japanese manufacturing processes developed in the mid-twentieth century to optimize efficiency and reduce waste:
- Kanban is a system for pulling just enough product through a process to meet demand. Kanban (signal) cards are used to indicate when supply is running low. The emphasis is on maintaining smooth and continuous flow.
- Lean is a system for reducing waste in products and processes by eliminating anything that’s unnecessary, including excessive steps in a process and functionality that doesn’t bring value to a customer in a product. The focus is on minimizing waste and maximizing value.
These manufacturing systems have since been adapted for use in a wide range of industries and even in personal time management systems to ensure continuous workflow and improve productivity. In ...
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