Kanban

Kanban

The kanban system determines the production quantity in every process. It is known as the nervous system of Lean Production. Kanban is a Japanese word that means "instruction card".

Types of Kanban

Different types of kanban include – Supplier kanban (indicate orders given to outside parts suppliers when parts are needed for assembly lines); In-factory kanban (used between processes in a factory); Production kanban (indicate operating instructions for processes within a line).

Functions of Kanban

The Kanban system has several important functions-

• A communication system
• Pick Up and work order information
• Elimination of overproduction waste
• A tool for visual control
• A tool for promoting improvement
• Electrical signal

Rules of Kanban

• Never move or produce parts without a kanban. As stated earlier, a box without a kanban will signify a problem.
• Never produce more parts than you have kanbans for. Kanbans are used to control inventory for many reasons. Producing parts without a kanban will create waste of inventory and will leave boxes unidentified.
• Never move more parts than you have kanbans for. Storage locations are usually established with a set level of inventory in mind. Moving extra boxes could result in unnecessary overflow at the storage location.
• No one is permitted to send information other than that on a kanban. A brand kanban (which most production kanbans would be) will tell you what to build, when to build it and how much to build. Communicating information other than this will violate one of the other rules.
• Do not send defective product to the next operation. This is a basic lean manufacturing concept but it must also apply to kanban systems. As the amount of inventory will be low, passing on bad parts could lead to many types of waste with emphasis on waste of defects.