A review of the kanban production control research literature

Station interdependence, blocking caused by finite buffer capacities, and periodic material handling make modeling and analysis of kanban-controlled lines challenging. Also, one must consider flows of material as well as flows of kanbans. The many models given in the literature contribute to the confusion and debate that often characterize kanban research. The only element common to all kanban systems appears to be finite buffer capacities. The paper describes blocking by total queue size, blocking by part type, and the single-card and two-card systems. It reviews the kanban literature and organizes it by type of system and decision area. First, the paper discusses elements of system design, including setting kanban numbers, performance measures, material-handling frequencies, and container sizes. Then it covers the production control topics of sequencing and batch-sizing. The paper concludes with a comparison of kanban and conventional methods of production control and with suggestions for future research.