Kanban Guide - Questions
Hi,
in the Kanban Guide I found the following that sounds strange to me:
"When the WIP drops below the defined limit, that is the signal to start new work."
1.) I have never heard that the WIP has an "lower limit". (If I'm wrong, where can I read someting about it?)
2.) I think the use of a WIP "lower limit" might be helpful but would prefer a sentence like this:
"When the WIP drops below a defined limit, this could be a signal for the team to start with new work."
Feel free to post here also other questions regarding the Kanban Guide.
Regards, Christian
What do you mean by a “lower limit”, as opposed to the “defined limit” for generating pull?
The lower limit could be zero, but if experience has shown that empty columns on the left of the board lead to problems later on, perhaps it's necessary to maintain a steady flow through all stages.
This is more likely to be relevant when the later columns require a constant feed of work, to make best use of the system. E.g. if there are testing specialists, or the release process is a known bottleneck.
My understanding is that the "defined limit" is the WIP limit. Your WIP limit should be defined by the team based on the ability of the team to do the work. Ideally, the amount of WIP should be the WIP limit - the team is always operating at its defined capacity. If it's not, that would indicate that the team is operating at a reduced capacity or that the flow of work from downstream steps is impeded.