The Art of Kanban - Creative Safety Supply April 2014 | Page 3

The Art of Kanban

WHAT IS KANBAN?

You might not be familiar with the word Kanban but you are probably familiar
with the process. Many businesses and homes already use an organization
system that is loosely based on Kanban without even knowing it. Simply put,
Kanban is an organizational system. The point of this, and really any
organizing system, is to keep products running in an even manner. Kanban is
a way of providing signals so that the process of maintaining inventory is
simplified.

The word Kanban comes from the Japanese and means billboard or
signboard. This word is used because Kanban relies heavily on cards that are
used as markers for moving and replacing inventory. The whole system
centers around these visual cues that help you maintain inventory at the
proper levels so that you never keep to much or too little of your products or

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