What is the difference between Kanban board and kamishibai board?
2 min readMay 3, 2024
The Kanban board and Kamishibai board are both visual management tools used in process improvement, but they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics:
Kanban Board:
- Purpose: Kanban boards are used primarily for workflow visualization and task management. They provide a visual representation of work items (tasks, user stories, etc.) and their progress through different stages of a workflow.
- Structure: Kanban boards consist of columns representing different stages of a workflow (e.g., To Do, In Progress, Done). Each work item is represented by a card, which moves horizontally across the board as it progresses through the workflow.
- Usage: Kanban boards are widely used in Agile and Lean methodologies, particularly in software development and project management. They help teams visualize work, limit work in progress (WIP), identify bottlenecks, and optimize workflow efficiency.
Kamishibai Board:
- Purpose: Kamishibai boards are used for process adherence, standardization, and daily management. They help ensure that standard work processes are followed consistently and that routine checks and audits are performed as scheduled.
- Structure: Kamishibai boards consist of cards representing different standard work tasks or process checks. Each card is associated with a specific frequency (e.g., daily, weekly) and is placed in a slot on the board corresponding to its due date.
- Usage: Kamishibai boards originate from Lean manufacturing principles and are commonly used in industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and services. They support daily management practices by visually signaling when checks or audits need to be performed, ensuring adherence to standard work procedures and continuous improvement.
While both Kanban boards and Kamishibai boards are visual management tools, Kanban boards focus on workflow visualization and task management, whereas Kamishibai boards focus on process adherence, standardization, and daily management through routine checks and audits. Read More: https://kanbanboard.co.uk/kanban-board and https://kanbanboard.co.uk/kamishibai-board