Analyzing Lean Product Development: Kanban Development method

Kanban (Kanban) Development method is the hottest agile and lean development method in recent years. A growing number of cases show that it can improve collaboration, optimize management, and significantly improve delivery speed, quality, and flexibility. The rule of Kanban development method is simple, but its effective implementation depends on the understanding of the principle, the adherence to the principle and the strain of practice. This article will introduce the principle, principle and basic practice of kanban in the whole.

1. The original meaning of Kanban

Kanban is from lean manufacturing. Although the actual practice is different, the Kanban development method and the Kanban principle in the lean manufacturing are consistent. Starting with lean manufacturing can help us better understand the nature of Kanban.

1.1 Kanban comes from Lean manufacturing

Lean manufacturing, which evolved from the practice of Toyota in the 50 's, is also known as the "Toyota Mode of production". James P of MIT in 1990. Womack and other professors to refine the practice of Toyota, published "Lean Production--change the world's Machine," a book, the concept of lean manufacturing began to be recognized and emulated by the world, until today, it is still the most advanced manufacturing methods, is the common goal of manufacturing.

The father of Toyota's production system, Tai-Yi said: "The two pillars of the Toyota mode of production is ' just-in-time ' and ' labor ', Kanban is the tool to operate the systems." Kanban is the core tool of Toyota Production mode (Fig ㈠).

Figure ㈠ Toyota House--Toyota Production

The word kanban (Kanban) comes from Japanese, the original meaning is the visual card. As shown in Figure ㈡, the essence of Kanban tools is: After the process in need, through kanban forward process signal-please give me the number of input, the previous procedure only after the Kanban, before the production on demand. Kanban signals from downstream to upstream, pull upstream production activities, so that products downstream flow. The source of the pull is the most downstream customer value, that is, customer orders or requirements.

Figure ㈡ Kanban Pull manufacturing process