What is KANBAN

Kanban is a new technique for managing a software development process in a highly efficient way. Kanban underpins Toyota's "just-in-time" (JIT) production system. It is first developed and used by them. Kanban is a visual signal that’s used to trigger an action. As we know the word kanban is Japanese. Roughly translated, it means “card you can see.”

Toyota introduced and refined the use of kanban in a relay system to standardize the flow of parts in their production lines in the 1950s.  Kanban process starts with the customer’s order and follows production downstream. Because all requests for parts are pulled from the order, kanban is sometimes referred to as a "pull" system.

In software development process, it can be thought of as a pipeline with feature requests entering one end and improved software emerging from the other end. In simple terms the requirement comes in simple form from the user and finally comes with a finished product or services or part of service.

We can divide the input and output as below mentioned category:-

1. Analyze the requirements

2.  Develop the code

3. Test it works.

Simply we make use of a Board generally called the KanaBan Board which can have the representation as

There are six generally accepted rules for kanban:

1.      Downstream processes may only withdraw items in the precise amounts specified on the kanban.
2. Upstream processes may only send items downstream in the precise amounts and sequences specified by the kanban.
3. No items are made or moved without a kanban.
4. A kanban must accompany each item at all times.
5. Defects and incorrect amounts are never sent to the next downstream process.
6. The number of kanbans should be monitored carefully to reveal problems and opportunities for improvement.

Thanks
Anil Kumar Pandey
Microsoft MVP, Microsoft MCC, DNS MVM