Adaptable Kanban System Maintains Just-In-Time Production

Abstract

The Kanban system is an information system that harmoniously controls the production of the necessary products in the necessary quantities at the necessary time in every process of a factory and also among companies. This is known as Just-in-time (JIT) production. At Toyota, the Kanban system is regarded as a subsystem of the whole Toyota production system. In other words, the Kanban system is not equivalent to the Toyota production system, although many people erroneously call the latter the Kanban system. In this chapter, the various types of Kanbans, their usages, and rules are described. How Kanbans are connected with many supporting routines in production lines is also discussed.