Kanban Origin

Kanban is a Japanese term meaning "signboard" or "billboard." Kanban was developed by Taiichi Ohno in the 1940s as part of the Toyota Production System (TPS), which aimed to optimize manufacturing processes by reducing waste and improving inventory management. Ohno introduced Kanban cards as a visual tool to effectively manage production needs and workflows.

Another key factor in the evolution of Kanban within the TPS was Just-in-Time (JIT) production, which emphasizes limiting Work in Progress (WIP) to minimize inventory costs. In this system, products are manufactured only to meet existing orders. Thus, the origins of Kanban are rooted in the evolution of manufacturing processes pioneered by Toyota.