This eTool is designed for you to gain a practical understanding of a simplified Pull system using kanbans for your daily Desktop (PC) work. A Pull system is set of rules or business standards that ensure nothing (i.e., work, information, data, and service) is produced by an upstream process until the downstream process signals the need for it. The signal is referred to as a Kanban. Since information (data, work, etc.) does not flow continuously between processes (i.e., departments or work groups), there needs to be something in place something between those processes that can assist the flow concept without wastes of upstream overproduction and downstream time delays. This can be accomplished by incorporating an In-process supermarket between processes utilizing the concept of the Pull system with Kanbans (i.e., eKanbans). An In-process supermarket is the temporary placement of work until it is needed by the downstream process.
The upstream process will be referred to the Work Kanban Folder (see illustration below). Work Kanbans are specific work requirements that have a defined cycle time. The downstream process will be the Critical Process Folder and Non-Critical Process Folder. Critical processes are those work requirements that are defined by the user (work that must be completed within a certain period of time, typically a day). Non-critical processes are those work requirements that can be done at some other time (another day which then may become a critical process). The worker must first "fill" the In-process supermarket (or Work Kanban Folder) with a list of both Critical and Non-critical processes. Once completed, each day (or what the time allocation that has been set to) the worker will "pull" work requirements from the Work Kanban Folder into either the Critical Process Folder or Non-Critical Process Folder. The Critical Process Folder will be green as long as the total time allocated is less than 80%. If work exceeds 80% then the folder turns red, signaling that nothing more can be "pulled" from the In-process Supermarket or the Non-Critical Process Folder. Both red and green are the visual indicators for this Pull system. The default time is 450 minutes, but can be easily changed. Let this eTool help you manage your daily work activities in a Lean way!
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