How to maximize flow, any flow

http://personalkanban.com says there are just two kanban rules:

  1. Visualize work
  2. Limit WIP

Goldratt says there are four concepts of supply chain:

  1. Improving flow (or equivalently lead time) is a primary objective of operations
  2. This primary objective should be translated into a practical mechanism that guides the operation when not to produce (prevents overproduction)
  3. Local efficiencies must be abolished
  4. A focusing process to balance flow must be in place

But they are concepts. And I was looking for operational guidelines, to serve as implementation milestones in any situation of trying to maximize flow: personal (GTD-like productivity system, multi-project critical chain project, supply chain — anything).

So, based on the two kanban rules, the four concepts of supply chain and on Goldratt’s S&T trees, I came up with the following three operational milestones of maximizing flow:

  1. Visualize work (oftentimes clients have no idea what projects they are doing or what the exact sequence of work in a project is)
  2. Reduce bad multitasking (ie. limit WIP, which as a consequence of not visualizing work, is usually too high)
  3. Balance flow

Phrasing them in this way has given me enormous clarity in approaching client engagements. However in all client situations, we have come across serious misalignments between the measurement system and the overall System Goal. This has prompted me to expand the following list to read:

  1. Remove misalignment
  2. Visualize work
  3. Reduce bad multitasking
  4. Balance flow

Details to follow. Meanwhile, you’re most welcome to comment.

@1 year ago