Kanban comes from a Japanese word meaning “card.” Today the term is in use by those in manufacturing worldwide. Manufacturers use Kanban systems to control work in progress (WIP) on production lines. Manufacturers use a Magnatag Kanban system for making almost any product from baked goods to software to automobiles.
They are simple and effective for visual load leveling. We have them in our supply areas as well as each work cell. With the boards we always know which job we need to work on next … no time is wasted, we are always working the top priority order.Kanban boards restructure and simplify the way communications take place on the factory floor. Hundreds of United States factories use the Kanban system, as excellent communications are an important part of any lean manufacturing process. Kanban Systems by Magnatag allows for simplified management of production and assembly tasks.
Prioritizing these tasks on the boards and in view of team members, contributes to efficiency, engagement, and team spirit – everyone knows the score in real-time as the tasks status are clearly visible as to status. In addition to managing production and assembly tasks, there are Kanban inventory boards, boards for job staging and much more.
The following are some of the best advantages of using Kanban Card Boards
- Easy to setup, easy to use and easy to understand
- Flexible format can be used to show job priority, inventory levels and load leveling
- Card Colors can be used to designate different types of materials and/or jobs
- Printable Cards can be customized to show lot numbers, job numbers, etc.
- Large and small capacity boards can be “right” sized for different applications