kanban

Meanings

1. A card containing a set of manufacturing specifications and requirements, used to regulate the supply of components.
2. A coordinated manufacturing system using such cards.
3. A system to manage, visualise, and improve work across teams, often as part of an agile methodology.

1. Alternative letter-case form of kanban.

Etymology

From Japanese 看板 (かんばん, kanban), from 看 (kan, “visible”) + 板 (“board or card”), developed and first used in the Toyota Production System.