Kanban
Japanese for 'signboard' or 'visual signal'
A scheduling system for lean manufacturing that uses visual signals (cards, boards) to trigger action. Work is pulled through the system based on actual demand rather than pushed based on forecasts.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 3 chapters:
"...nstead of production schedules pushed from planning departments, production was pulled by downstream demand. This required visual management systems (kanban cards), tight coordination, and trust. Building this root system took 40 years (1950-1990): 1950s-1960s: Developed core concepts, tested in Toy..."
"Jidoka meant building quality into the process by stopping the line when defects were detected, rather than fixing mistakes later. Kanban used visual signals (cards, bins) to control production flow. This was "lichens on rock" - testing ideas in one factory, one line, minimal scale."
"...ding each actor's visibility (more neighbors observable) without centralizing decisions. Case 2: Toyota Production System - Just-in-Time Through Kanban Signaling (Japan, 1950s-Present) Toyota's Just-in-Time (JIT) manufacturing system, developed by Taiichi Ohno in the 1950s-1970s, is one of history's..."
Biological Context
Kanban mirrors biological signaling systems where downstream processes trigger upstream production. Cells don't overproduce proteins; they respond to signals indicating need. This demand-pull approach prevents waste and overproduction.
Business Application
Kanban boards visualize workflow, limit work-in-progress, and reveal bottlenecks. Originally for manufacturing, now widely used in software development and knowledge work.