Kanban card statuses

Kanban card status means what stage kanban card in the procurement process is at. In KanbanBOX different statuses are available for a kanban card:

1. New: you create the kanban card but don’t put in place.
2. Empty: bin is empty, you pull kanban card but don’t release an order to supplier.
3. Batching: kanban card is waiting batch completion, before the release of the whole minimum batch.
4. Released: empty kanban card release a replacement order for the supplier.
5. In process: supplier confirms and takes charge the order.
6. Done: supplier has produced the goods.
7. In transit: Kanban card is on way to the customer.
8. Full: kanban card has been replenished and is available at the customer.

For a correct turnover of kanban cards, two are the crucial status: released and full. In a straightforward application, for example with a production kanban where supplier and customer are close or a purchase kanban of assembly bolts, it may be convenient to manage only these two statuses. In other cases, for example for a general purchase kanban or a production kanban where customer and supplier aren’t so close, should be important that supplier give his feedback to customer, setting kanban status in process, done or in transit.

Now let’s see in more detail the meaning of each status.

Overview of statuses

New Kanban

A kanban card is set New when is created in KanbanBOX. First step is to set if bin and parts linked to kanban card are available in our warehouse or need to be replenished to the supplier. So, to put in place a new kanban card, you need to:

1. Print kanban card.
2. Scan the barcode and set the correct status, as bin and parts are or not available in warehouse.

Once put in place, a kanban card cannot come back to new status.

Empty Kanban

A kanban card is empty when parts in the bin are run out of. The empty status is used when another office (could be purchasing or logistics) evaluates and decides the kanban card replenishment. Who evaluates can search and filter empty kanbans in the board and decides to replenish it or not. Empty status is optional, and you can jump directly to set released the kanban card.

Released Kanban

A released kanban card set a replenishment order to the supplier: you authorize supplier to put in process parts, e supplier needs to produce and send kanban within required date, set by lead time agreed with supplier. Only customer set released status.

Batching Kanban

A kanban card is set in Batching status when policy for the kanban loop is Batch kanban and, after the release, the total number of released kanban cards doesn’t hit the batch set for the kanban loop. KanbanBOX automatically control batching status. Kanban card exit batching status only when number of kanban released hit the minimum batch size set with the supplier. If wish, supplier can set in process a batching kanban card, forcing it out of the batching status.

In process Kanban

Supplier set a kanban card In process when take up the order with its required date of delivery. In process status states that supplier take charge customer request, and provide an important feedback to customer that supplier receive kanban card order.

Done Kanban

Done status states that supplier has prepared kanban card, ready to pick up or delivery. Set a kanban done is helpful for the customer, when it organizes pickups with a milk-run collection, and for the supplier to keep track of what is done versus what is still in process, too.

In transit Kanban

A kanban card in transit is out of supplier’s production chain, delivered to customer. Supplier set kanban in transit.

Full Kanban

Customer should set kanban card full and only when it comes to customer’s target supermarket. In customer’s supermarket every bin needs a kanban card attached.

Changing the kanban status

The faster way to change the kanban status is to read barcode from the kanban card and submit it in KanbanBOX in homepage with the specific widget. As an alternative, you can read barcode and set the new status in Set page, with a mobile device or with the smartphone app, or, eventually, change the kanban status with a click in the kanban board. The required statuses are always two: released and full. There are some priorities in setting a new kanban status, shown in the next picture. If you don’t follow the priorities, KanbanBOX wouldn’t set the new status and would give instead an error message.