Typical KanBo Applications in Real Work

Production Operations — Making Work Visible Where Value Is Created

Production Operations — Making Work Visible Where Value Is Created
Request

We operate several production lines with many concurrent processes.
Our main goal is to keep throughput steady, minimize downtime, and react fast to production issues.
However, our data and communication are scattered — operators write notes on paper, supervisors send updates via chat, and management only sees performance at the end of the day.
We need a way to visualize production flow, capture work events as they happen, and connect improvements directly to the actual process.
Can KanBo help us organize and manage live production operations?

KanBo Answer — The Digital Layer of Production Reality

KanBo brings structure and visibility to production without disrupting existing systems.
It complements your MES, ERP, or SCADA systems by connecting human activity, context, and improvement actions around what those systems record.

Each Workspace represents a plant, production division, or operational zone.
Inside, each Space corresponds to a line, shift, or process area — for example:

“Line 3 – Weekly Operations” or “Packaging Area – Batch Coordination.”

Within these Spaces, Cards represent specific production entities or events, such as:

Production orders

Batches or jobs

Changeovers

Downtime incidents

Quality holds

Continuous improvement actions

Each card moves through a defined status flow, such as:

Planned → Running → Paused → Completed → Verified

This structure gives real-time understanding of what’s happening, where, and why — enabling data-driven reactions at every level.

How It Works in Practice

Let’s imagine a food production facility running three packaging lines.
The production manager creates a Workspace called Manufacturing Operations.
Within it, they define Spaces for each line:

Line 1 – Filling & Labeling

Line 2 – Packaging

Line 3 – Palletizing

Inside Line 3 – Palletizing, each Card represents a batch or job, such as:

“Batch 45A – Palletizing 1L Bottles”

“Line Setup for Batch 45B”

“Unscheduled Downtime – Palletizer Robot”

“Continuous Improvement Suggestion – Conveyor 2 Speed”

Each card includes:

Assigned crew members and shift leaders

Real-time progress comments (“Job started at 07:12,” “Machine stopped at 08:05”)

Root cause tags and attachments (e.g., photos, sensor data exports)

Dependencies (e.g., “Depends on Quality Release of Batch 45A”)

Due times and planned durations

Status reflecting real production state

Supervisors use the Gantt View to visualize ongoing jobs across the week and detect overlaps or idle time.
The DashSpace summarizes performance by shift, line, or operator.
Maintenance and quality teams can be automatically tagged or assigned when issues arise — turning every event into a documented action path.

A Real Example — Visibility and Reaction in One System

Before KanBo:

Production logs were handwritten and digitalized hours later.

Management knew of stoppages after they were already costly.

Line leaders juggled spreadsheets, radios, and paper forms.

Continuous improvement ideas were lost between shifts.

After KanBo:

Every job, incident, or delay is instantly visible as a Card.

Supervisors and technicians collaborate directly in context.

Managers see real-time progress and downtime trends via DashSpaces.

Shift handovers become seamless — the next team continues exactly where the previous left off.

Improvement actions stay connected to their root events.

KanBo effectively becomes a visual digital twin of your factory floor, but designed for people, not machines.

Human-Centric Production Visibility

Unlike rigid production systems, KanBo adapts to how teams actually work:

Operators can record short notes or photos directly from tablets or PCs.

Supervisors can assign quick corrective actions (“Lubricate motor X,” “Clean conveyor belt”).

Production managers can run Daily Gemba Walks directly within KanBo Spaces using views filtered by shift or equipment.

Continuous improvement teams can analyze recurring issues directly through Card Relations and Labels (e.g., “Root Cause: Mechanical,” “Line: 3”).

This integration of people, context, and insight transforms the production environment into a living knowledge base — built as the work happens.

KanBo Features in Action

FunctionDescriptionValueSpacesRepresent production lines or process areasProvides focus and structure for work eventsCardsRepresent production orders, incidents, or actionsKeeps all details and communication togetherStatusesReflect real-time process flowShows what’s running, paused, or completedRelationsConnect related events, batches, and improvementsEnables traceability and cause analysisDashSpacesSummarize production metricsProvides real-time performance visibilityGantt ViewVisualize batches and durationsSupports planning and bottleneck detectionWorkload ViewManage crew and shift distributionAligns human resources with operations

Outcome — The Digital Fabric of Production

KanBo doesn’t replace production control systems — it completes them.
It captures the human layer of manufacturing — decisions, observations, and communication — the part of production that ERP or MES cannot see.

The results are immediate:

Production status visible in real time

Downtime and delays documented instantly

Communication structured around facts, not messages

Continuous improvement actions linked to real events

Management dashSpaces that reflect what’s actually happening

KanBo makes production operations transparent, traceable, and self-improving.
It gives decision-makers confidence that every shift, line, and operator works within one coherent digital environment — a place where value is created, observed, and optimized.

KanBo turns production from a system of records into a system of real-time awareness.

Request

We operate several production lines with many concurrent processes.
Our main goal is to keep throughput steady, minimize downtime, and react fast to production issues.
However, our data and communication are scattered — operators write notes on paper, supervisors send updates via chat, and management only sees performance at the end of the day.
We need a way to visualize production flow, capture work events as they happen, and connect improvements directly to the actual process.
Can KanBo help us organize and manage live production operations?

KanBo Answer — The Digital Layer of Production Reality

KanBo brings structure and visibility to production without disrupting existing systems.
It complements your MES, ERP, or SCADA systems by connecting human activity, context, and improvement actions around what those systems record.

Each Workspace represents a plant, production division, or operational zone.
Inside, each Space corresponds to a line, shift, or process area — for example:

“Line 3 – Weekly Operations” or “Packaging Area – Batch Coordination.”

Within these Spaces, Cards represent specific production entities or events, such as:

Production orders
Batches or jobs
Changeovers
Downtime incidents
Quality holds
Continuous improvement actions

Each card moves through a defined status flow, such as:

Planned → Running → Paused → Completed → Verified

This structure gives real-time understanding of what’s happening, where, and why — enabling data-driven reactions at every level.

How It Works in Practice

Let’s imagine a food production facility running three packaging lines.
The production manager creates a Workspace called Manufacturing Operations.
Within it, they define Spaces for each line:

Line 1 – Filling & Labeling
Line 2 – Packaging
Line 3 – Palletizing

Inside Line 3 – Palletizing, each Card represents a batch or job, such as:

“Batch 45A – Palletizing 1L Bottles”
“Line Setup for Batch 45B”
“Unscheduled Downtime – Palletizer Robot”
“Continuous Improvement Suggestion – Conveyor 2 Speed”

Each card includes:

Assigned crew members and shift leaders
Real-time progress comments (“Job started at 07:12,” “Machine stopped at 08:05”)
Root cause tags and attachments (e.g., photos, sensor data exports)
Dependencies (e.g., “Depends on Quality Release of Batch 45A”)
Due times and planned durations
Status reflecting real production state

Supervisors use the Gantt View to visualize ongoing jobs across the week and detect overlaps or idle time.
The DashSpace summarizes performance by shift, line, or operator.
Maintenance and quality teams can be automatically tagged or assigned when issues arise — turning every event into a documented action path.

A Real Example — Visibility and Reaction in One System

Before KanBo:

Production logs were handwritten and digitalized hours later.
Management knew of stoppages after they were already costly.
Line leaders juggled spreadsheets, radios, and paper forms.
Continuous improvement ideas were lost between shifts.

After KanBo:

Every job, incident, or delay is instantly visible as a Card.
Supervisors and technicians collaborate directly in context.
Managers see real-time progress and downtime trends via DashSpaces.
Shift handovers become seamless — the next team continues exactly where the previous left off.
Improvement actions stay connected to their root events.

KanBo effectively becomes a visual digital twin of your factory floor, but designed for people, not machines.

Human-Centric Production Visibility

Unlike rigid production systems, KanBo adapts to how teams actually work:

Operators can record short notes or photos directly from tablets or PCs.
Supervisors can assign quick corrective actions (“Lubricate motor X,” “Clean conveyor belt”).
Production managers can run Daily Gemba Walks directly within KanBo Spaces using views filtered by shift or equipment.
Continuous improvement teams can analyze recurring issues directly through Card Relations and Labels (e.g., “Root Cause: Mechanical,” “Line: 3”).

This integration of people, context, and insight transforms the production environment into a living knowledge base — built as the work happens.

KanBo Features in Action

Function	Description	Value
Spaces	Represent production lines or process areas	Provides focus and structure for work events
Cards	Represent production orders, incidents, or actions	Keeps all details and communication together
Statuses	Reflect real-time process flow	Shows what’s running, paused, or completed
Relations	Connect related events, batches, and improvements	Enables traceability and cause analysis
DashSpaces	Summarize production metrics	Provides real-time performance visibility
Gantt View	Visualize batches and durations	Supports planning and bottleneck detection
Workload View	Manage crew and shift distribution	Aligns human resources with operations

Outcome — The Digital Fabric of Production

KanBo doesn’t replace production control systems — it completes them.
It captures the human layer of manufacturing — decisions, observations, and communication — the part of production that ERP or MES cannot see.

The results are immediate:

Production status visible in real time
Downtime and delays documented instantly
Communication structured around facts, not messages
Continuous improvement actions linked to real events
Management dashSpaces that reflect what’s actually happening

KanBo makes production operations transparent, traceable, and self-improving.
It gives decision-makers confidence that every shift, line, and operator works within one coherent digital environment — a place where value is created, observed, and optimized.

KanBo turns production from a system of records into a system of real-time awareness.