kanban

[ kahn-bahn ]

noun

1. a just-in-time method of inventory control, originally developed in Japanese automobile factories.

kanban

/ ˈkænbæn /

noun

1. a just-in-time manufacturing process in which the movements of materials through a process are recorded on specially designed cards
2. any of the cards used for ordering materials in such a system

Word History and Origins

Origin of kanban¹

From Japanese kamban literally, “signboard, shopkeeper's in-business sign,” probably alluding to the shop or tavern keeper's final call for orders before taking the sign down, hence '“ast-minute, just in time” in the context of inventory control, from Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese kàn “look” + bǎn “printing block”

Word History and Origins

Origin of kanban¹

literally: advertisement hoarding