Kanban

everything you need to know

Kanban is a method that makes work visible and processes more efficient. It was originally developed by Toyota in Japan in the 1940s to optimize production. Today, Kanban is used in many areas, from software development to marketing and personal time management. But what exactly is behind this method?

What does Kanban mean?

The word “Kanban” comes from the Japanese and means something like “sign” or “board”. It stands for a visual representation of tasks and processes. The core of Kanban is to make work visible and organize it in clear steps. A Kanban board is often used, which is divided into columns. These columns represent the different steps of a process, such as “To do”, “In progress” and “Done”. Each task is displayed as a card and moves through the columns depending on which process step it is in.

Aim of the Kanban method

The main goal of Kanban is to optimize the flow of work and ensure that tasks flow smoothly and efficiently through the individual process steps. By visualizing and limiting parallel work, the method helps to identify bottlenecks and avoid overload. Kanban promotes continuous improvement in working methods, enabling teams to work more productively and with greater focus.

How does Kanban work?

Kanban is based on a simple principle: it visualizes the work flow and helps to identify bottlenecks at an early stage. The Kanban board is the central tool of the method. A typical board consists of three main columns:

The tasks are displayed as cards that are moved around the board. This keeps progress clear at all times.

The basic principles of Kanban

The Kanban method is based on four central principles:

Who uses Kanban and for whom is it suitable?

Kanban is extremely flexible and can be used in many areas:

  • Software development: For managing projects and tasks.
  • Marketing: For planning and implementing campaigns.
  • Production: To optimize manufacturing processes.
  • Private individuals: For structuring everyday life and personal projects.

The method is suitable for anyone who wants to structure and optimize their work, regardless of the industry or type of task.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Kanban?

Advantages

  • Easy to implement and flexibly customizable.
  • Promotes transparency and collaboration.
  • Avoids overload by limiting parallel work.
  • Makes bottlenecks visible at an early stage.

Disadvantages

  • Can become confusing for very complex projects.
  • Requires discipline to apply the method effectively.
  • Does not offer precise scheduling as the focus is on the flow of work.

Why is Kanban so useful?

Kanban is extremely flexible and can be used in many areas. Software development teams use it to develop features, marketing teams use it to organize campaigns, and even private individuals use Kanban to plan personal projects or their daily lives.

Kanban is a simple but powerful method for structuring work and making it more efficient.

Image credits: Header- & featured image by freepik