Kanban is a business management methodology that aims to visualize and optimize business processes. Kanban, which means “cue card” in Japanese, was developed by Toyota and used to improve manufacturing processes. Today, it is widely used in software development, IT operations and other information processing processes. The basic principles of Kanban are as follows:
Visualization: Kanban boards are used to make the entire workflow and tasks visible.
Limiting Work in Progress (WIP Limits): Increasing focus and efficiency by limiting the number of jobs being worked on at the same time.
Managing the Flow: Optimizing and continuously improving the process from the start to the end of the job.
Continuous Improvement (Kaizen): Continuously evaluating and improving business processes.
Who Should Use It?
Kanban should be preferred especially in the following cases:
Software Development Teams: Teams that want to optimize software development processes by visualizing the workflow and identifying bottlenecks.
IT and Operations Teams: Organizing the workflow and improving service quality for IT and operations teams that require continuous service delivery.
Service Sector: Businesses in the service sector that want to manage customer demands quickly and effectively.
Production and Supply Chain Management: Production and supply chain managers who want to optimize the flow of materials and information.
What are Kanban Activities?
Kanban is based on certain activities, and these activities are used to improve workflow:
Visualization and Boards: Kanban boards are used to show the status of jobs and processes. Boards consist of columns such as “To Do,” “Doing,” and “Done.”
WIP Limits: Limits set to increase efficiency by limiting the number of jobs being worked on at the same time.
Flow Reviews: Regularly reviewing the workflow and identifying bottlenecks, delays, and areas for improvement.
Complex Statistics and Measurements: Tools used to monitor cycle time, bottlenecks, and other performance metrics and identify improvement opportunities.
What are the Applications that Support Kanban?
There are many software and tools available to manage Kanban processes more effectively. The most commonly used ones are:
Trello: A card-based Kanban management tool with a user-friendly interface.
Jira: Developed by Atlassian, this tool supports both Scrum and Kanban projects.
Asana: A powerful platform for task management and collaboration.
Monday.com: A flexible project management tool that offers visualization and collaboration tools.
Kanbanize: A tool developed specifically for the Kanban methodology and allows you to track work processes in detail.
How Does Kanban Help in Remote Work?
In the remote work model, Kanban is an effective method for organizing the workflow of teams and increasing efficiency. Here are some points about how it helps:
Visualization: Kanban boards allow remote teams to instantly see the status of work and facilitate collaboration.
Transparency and Accountability: Everyone can follow the workflow and progress, ensuring clarity of responsibilities.
Flexibility and Adaptability: It offers the opportunity to quickly adapt to changes in workload.
Use of Efficient Tools: Trello, Jira and other Kanban tools make it easier to manage workflows even in remote working conditions and increase team productivity.
Conclusion
Kanban offers an effective method for visualizing and optimizing workflows. Thanks to its flexible and efficient structure, it can be successfully implemented in various sectors and working models. In the era of remote working, the regular communication, transparency and flexibility provided by Kanban play a critical role in increasing team productivity. As mfatech, we are here to show you how you can effectively use Kanban in your projects and achieve more successful results with this method. Feel free to contact us for questions or more information.
