What characterizes a kanban system?

A kanban system is fundamentally a visual scheduling system that helps manage work and workflow within production and operational processes. It relies on visual signals, typically in the form of cards or boards, to indicate when to move forward with tasks, production, or inventory replenishment. This visual representation enables teams to see the status of their work at a glance, helping to improve communication and efficiency.

Additionally, the core principle of kanban is to limit work in progress, which helps identify bottlenecks in workflows and promotes a smoother, more efficient flow of work. By using visual tools, kanban facilitates better collaboration among team members and helps optimize productivity by clearly showing what needs to be done, what is in progress, and what has been completed.

The other options do not accurately describe a kanban system. For instance, financial forecasting involves predicting future financial conditions and is not directly related to the visual and operational focus of kanban. Similarly, while there are software tools for managing inventory, a kanban system itself is not strictly classified as software but rather as a methodology rooted in lean principles. Lastly, a strategy for long-term planning diverges from kanban’s immediate focus on workflow and operational efficiency. Kanban emphasizes adaptive processes suited to ongoing production tasks rather than