Kanban: a project management framework

Abstract

Over the last decades important new approaches have appeared in operations planning and control of production systems. Kanban is a visual system first developed by Taiichi Ohno for Toyota during the 1940s in Japan. The original aim of this tool was gaining control in processes and make their workflow more manageable. The efficiency of daily activities within industrial processes represents a challenge for every production company. In fact, this tool is not only applicable to production processes, but also to every project taking place in almost every business function (operations, marketing, recruitment, business expansion...). The target of Kanban is achieved by the implementation of certain activities or practices that, if well implemented, will gradually help improving the workflow. Its improvement implies not only a reduction of lead time and a better organization of the activities, but also a reduction of waste, a more value-added approach for the customer and a better predictability for future scenarios. These benefits are crucial in today's market, characterized for experimenting changes and competitiveness in a fast-paced environment.

The aim of this article is to give an approach of this tool analyzing it from its origin and definition, going through its possibilities in its application and stating the advantages and shortcomings that this methodology offers.

Annotated bibliography

• R.J. Boucherie, X. Chao and M. Miyazawa, Arrival first queueing networks with applications in kanban production systems