Topic 1.4 - Properties and restrictions

Manage the Workflow

The flow should be continuous and managed for instances where team boards reflect unanswered challenges.

Limit the Work Underway

At each stage of production, the work should be made as efficient as possible.

Visualize the Workflow

Team boards show where the value stream is at a team level.

Define the Process

Accurately and iteratively define the process and be sure that everyone can understand it.

Improve as a Team

Kanban systems rely upon every member of the work team understanding where the production cycle is at a given time and constantly seeking and relaying improvement opportunities.

Constraints Exist by Nature in Any System

There are limitations in every system, due to physics, regulation, dollars or process weakness.

Only when the constraints are understood and explored can they be addressed logically and efficiently.

Addressing constraints based on facts will improve efficiency and profit.

All Other Decisions Hinge Upon Constraint Decisions

Once a decision about addressing a constraint has been achieved, other decisions cannot infringe upon the new process.

Loop

The process improvement system is continuous and iterative. It should constantly be flowing in a loop to keep improvements up to date.