Stable System
A Stable System is one where the arrival rate equals the throughput. This balance is crucial for maintaining efficiency and preventing bottlenecks. One effective way to achieve this stability is through a Pull System.
Understanding the Pull System
A Pull System describes the movement of work items driven by actual demand. This approach helps maintain a stable system by ensuring that new work is only introduced when there's capacity to handle it. That's one of the key concepts of a Kanban System.
Example:
Imagine a supermarket shelf stocked with products. In a Pull System:
1. When a customer buys a product, it creates an empty space on the shelf.
2. This empty space represents a demand for that product.
3. Only then is a new product brought from the stockroom to restock the shelf.
This ensures that the number of products on the shelf (work in progress) remains constant, maintaining system stability and preventing overstocking.
Practices and Policies for System Stability
To maintain a stable system, consider implementing the following practices and policies:
- Maintain Constant WIP Age: Strive to complete work items at a consistent pace to prevent aging work-in-progress items.
- Establish WIP Limits: Set and enforce work-in-progress limits for each stage of your workflow. This prevents overloading any single part of your process.
- Adapt WIP Limits: Regularly review and adjust your WIP limits based on team capacity and workflow changes. This ensures your limits remain effective as your process evolves.
- Finish What You Start: Focus on completing work items already in progress. Avoid deleting or abandoning started tasks, as this maintains flow efficiency and reduces wasted effort. This approach encourages seeing tasks through to completion.
Key Insight:
The more stable your system, the more predictable it becomes. A stable system allows for more accurate forecasting, better resource allocation, and improved delivery reliability.
The net process flow chart is the best way to analyze how well you're following these policies. If you need help setting them up, just contact us. We're here to assist you in optimizing your workflow.