What is Kanban?

What is Kanban?

Kanban is a method for managing and visualizing work that is based on the principles of just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing. The Kanban method helps teams to identify bottlenecks and optimize the flow of work to maximize efficiency and minimize waste.

The main elements of the Kanban method are:

●  Kanban board: A visual representation of the work and its status. The board is divided into columns that represent the different stages of work, such as “To Do”, “In Progress”, and “Done”.

●  Work items: Represented as cards or sticky notes on the Kanban board, they contain information about the work that needs to be done, such as the task description, priority, and who is responsible for it.

●  Work in Progress (WIP) limits: A set limit on the number of work items that can be in progress at the same time, this helps to prevent overloading the team and to identify bottlenecks.

●  Pull system: Work is pulled through the process by the team, rather than pushed. This means that team members only start working on a task when they have the capacity to do so, and not when it is assigned to them.

●  Continuous improvement: Regularly review and analyze the flow of work, identify bottlenecks, and implement changes to optimize the process.

Kanban is particularly useful for teams that are working on projects with high variability and unpredictability, and it is often used in combination with other Agile methodologies such as Scrum. Kanban can be applied to any type of work and any industry, it helps to visualize the flow of work and make it more transparent, enabling teams to identify and remove bottlenecks, and to optimize their work processes.