Lean Production And Kanban Outside The Plant Floor

It is sometimes assumed by industry novices and veterans alike that the tenets of Lean production and Kanban stop on the plant floor. While you can argue that it all begins (or ends) on the plant floor, middle management and the executive suite play a critical role in Lean success.

While the signals inherent in, for example, Kanban cards are typically acted upon by the floor employees, it can be critical to the success of a Kanban system to make management aware of what's happening on the floor. In our experience, there is no better way to learn what's happening on the floor than by deploying a strong Electronic Kanban or broader manufacturing software program, allowing management to receive the same signals floor employees are receiving without having to set foot on the floor.

Additionally, the support of management is absolutely vital in extending Kanban down the supply chain. Without the championing of management, adoption can be slow to take hold at suppliers reluctant to embrace new practices. In the end, it is ultimately a partnership that makes eKanban work and that partnership is best forged at the management level.