The Japanese Concept of Visualizing Workflows

JAPANESE BUSINESS CONCEPT OF THE WEEK

Kanban (看板)
English: "Signboard" or "Billboard"

Originally used in Japanese manufacturing, notably at the Toyota Motor Company in the late 1940s, the Kanban system is a visual management tool and scheduling system that helps organizations visualize work, limit work-in-progress, and maximize efficiency (or flow).

The Kanban system highlights the importance of real-time information, collaboration, and helping teams manage workflow. The method was also designed to reduce waste, increase transparency, and simplify logistics, making it an essential component of what would become the Toyota Production System.

💡 What this means for your business:

Visualize the Workflow: By seeing all items in a context (typically on a board), teams can understand the status and progress of tasks easily.

Make Process Policies Explicit: Clear guidelines for how tasks move through the system ensure consistency and clarity.

Improve Collaboratively: The team should work together to continuously assess and improve the Kanban system.


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THE HEADLINES
In this week’s edition of U.S.-Japan Weekly:

🩺 Nipro Medical to build megaplant in North Carolina

🇺🇸 Texas Governor Abbott meets with Toyota executives in Japan

💊 Sumitomo Corp. invests in American medical company Vast Medical Holdings

NEWS
Nipro Medical to build megaplant in North Carolina

🇺🇸 NORTH CAROLINA, USA — Nipro Medical Corp., a global leader in the healthcare and medical device industry, will spend $397.8 million to build its first North American manufacturing center of excellence in Greenville, North Carolina, an investment that will generate 232 new jobs in Pitt County, according to a press release from the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC).

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NEWS
Texas Governor Abbott meets with Toyota executives in Japan

🇺🇸 TEXAS, USA — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott met with Toyota Motor Corp. executives and suppliers and toured the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology in Nagoya earlier this month as part of a trade mission to Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.

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NEWS
Sumitomo Corp. invests in American medical company Vast Medical Holdings

🇺🇸 FLORIDA, USA — Japan’s Sumitomo Corp. has invested in Florida-based medical company Vast Medical Holdings, marking its entry into the U.S. market and expanding its presence in the global healthcare industry, Nikkei Asia reports.

READ MORE

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