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iomnet
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System Administrator
Total Posts: 87
Joined: 12 Feb 07
Member #1
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I would appreciate some advise on where I could purchase some simple off-the-shelf software that is the equivalent of kanban. I require this for stores control. So far I have only been able to track down this sort of thing as part of bigger packages which I do not need.
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iomnet
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System Administrator
Total Posts: 87
Joined: 12 Feb 07
Member #1
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Kanban in a software sense is nothing more than ReOrder Point ("when I have only one box left or when my stock falls below a certain level, order me some more") which is available in every stock control package from the most complex ERP like SAP and Oracle Manufacturing all the way down to the cheapest PC systems.
In fact SAP and other 'sophisticated' packages offer what they call Kanban functionality but they all miss the point.
The reason for this thing called Kanban from Japan being so successful when Western companies had been failing with ROP for years was that it was simple and visual - under the control of operators on the shop floor, and with the organisation geared around smooth and balanced workflows. In fact, the little yellow card on the side of the box was the last step in the 'Just in Time'' revolution, not the first.
Unless you are looking to manage workflow through the adoption of cells and so on, and make the replenishment process visible to all, then you are not really looking for Kanban. It is still kanban if components are stacked up against the board with a ticket and the storeman (or vendor's delivery person) takes this ticket as an order trigger but computerising it means that you are looking for ROP in your stock recording system.
As I said earlier, this is widely available. Of course, you have to remember the failing of ROP in that it is based around smooth demand and predictable lead times. If demand for a component is highly variable then simply ordering because you've got 200 left, you use 30 per week and the supplier usually delivers in six weeks, might just be a recipe for disaster.
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iomnet
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System Administrator
Total Posts: 87
Joined: 12 Feb 07
Member #1
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Any basic stock control package provides "Kanban signal" re-order functionality.
Set the "Re-order Quantity" to the Quantity in a bin.
Set the "Minimum Stock Level" (or the "Safety Stock Level") to the quantity you wish to hold on site (one, two, three, etc. bins worth).
Run a report many times a day to list all the items below the "Minimum Stock Level". Telephone/Fax a call-off for each item required to the supplier
Any basic MRP package will provide this and also the "Kanban re-order" functionality. Run the 'Re-Order Calculation" (just like the report above) which gives a recommended purchase order list which can be automatically faxed off to suppliers.
However this is not really "Kanban system (methodology)", because what no package will provide is the hands on touch of good operator/supervisors to:-
- Set the correct bin quantity,
- Set the correct number of bins,
- maintain an accurate stock count at all times (no delays, no errors)
- provide the visible signal that a well thought out Kanban system will provide.
Software can help the first two, but will never achieve the human touch required.
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iomnet
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System Administrator
Total Posts: 87
Joined: 12 Feb 07
Member #1
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Look at the following web-sites:
www.optimumperform.com/download.htm
www.ebotsinc.com/CEK.htm
www.kanbanexperts.co.uk
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J P Craig-Weston
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Forum Member
Total Posts: 2
Joined: 30 Jul 07
Member #18
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Quote: iomnet, Friday, 29 Jun 2007 20:30Look at the following web-sites: www.optimumperform.com/download.htm www.ebotsinc.com/CEK.htm www.kanbanexperts.co.uk
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J P Craig-Weston
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Forum Member
Total Posts: 2
Joined: 30 Jul 07
Member #18
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Quote: iomnet, Friday, 29 Jun 2007 20:30Look at the following web-sites: www.optimumperform.com/download.htm www.ebotsinc.com/CEK.htm www.kanbanexperts.co.uk The danger here is to fail to recognize that Kan-Ban and MRP are in fact 2 entirely different methodologies, the learning curve for a company without previous computerized stock replenishment experience would be extremely steep and fraught with many pitfalls for the inexperienced or unwary. In a sense MRP subsumes Kan-Ban, it's higher level system, but there is no free ride and if Kan-Ban works well for you, I'd think long and hard about it before going to the next level. a lot of company's have got into serious trouble with even simple It systems, beware.
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Off-the-shelf software that is the equivalent of kanban?
29 Jun 2007, 20:29