What tools and metrics are commonly used in Kanban?

Kanban metrics offer a window into the team’s workflow, which is used to identify where improvements need to be made. These Kanban metrics are important because they serve as a navigation tool that initially helps to make informed decisions about the topics related to setting the deadlines and allocation of the required resources. In this article, detailed knowledge is provided about the key metrics, the important types of key metrics, and the tools that are used in the Kanban System.

What are Kanban Metrics?

The Kanban flow metrics refer to the KPIs, popularly known as key performance indicators, which are used to measure the performance and efficiency of the team using the Kanban methods.

• These metrics also provide insights into the particular areas where the team needs some improvement and can deliver big projects without being delayed.
• Kanban metrics mainly focus to make or break success.
• They spot the bottlenecks quickly, increase the efficiency of the projects and it also improve the forecasting.

Commonly Used Metrics in Kanban

There are four metrics in Kanban which are used to build and break the workflow. These four key metrics are mentioned below:

1. Lead Time

The Lead Time refers to the time measure, whenever a new task of software development is added to the Kanban board to the point when the team marks the tasks as a complete task. Therefore, it gauges the total time, that a task takes to travel through the whole Kanban workflow. For the project managers, this metric is pivotal as it provides a detailed view of how much time a task takes within the system, which initially allows the teams for effective planning.

2. Cycle Time

In the Kanban workflow, the cycle time zooms in the “active work” stage. It refers to the measuring time when a team member begins a task till the team member completes it. In case, if someone doesn’t start a particular task for several months after the creation, the cycle time only begins when the task moves into the active workflow. This time can also represent whether the team members are working effectively or not.

3. Work-in-progress (WIP)

In the Kanban system, the work-in-progress refers to the time when the number of tasks which are currently in the “in-progress” stage. In this stage, at any time it measures the volume of the ongoing work by providing a snapshot of tasks which are neither in the backlog nor in the complete phase. Monitoring the work-in-progress is important as it helps to balance the workload of the teams and also identify the bottlenecks.

4. Throughput

Throughput refers to the time frame in which the total number of tasks items the team members complete successfully. It is used to measure the productivity of the team during that particular time. This metric is useful because it shows the level of productivity in the team which allows us to make right decisions for the tasks which need to be assigned in the future. Whenever it is combined with the lead time and cycle time, throughput can increase the forecasting accuracy of how much work the team can deliver effectively.

Tools Used to Measure Kanban Metrics

The most effective measuring solution of metrics is Jira Software which is used to provide actionable insight which aids in the continuous delivery and also helps to track the metrics effortlessly. With the help of the following tools, such as control charts and cumulative flow diagrams, these key metrics are used to measure effectively. 

1. Control chart

Control chart refers to a diagnostic and graphical representation tool which provides stability and variability in the workflow. The control chart plots cycle time data points over a period, which shows an average time to take place to complete a particular task successfully and the variability around that average. This is important due to high variability often signals the instability of the process. Whenever the control chart is seen from closely all the thing revolves around the data points. Some of its possible interpretations are mentioned below:

• Between the chart’s upper and lower control limits, there is a widening gap which indicates the unpredictability of the cycle times.
• Away from the average line a clustering of points signals a bottle neck, where the tasks get stuck.

One can find out the errors or issues by scrutinizing these mentioned patterns. Thus, making the Kanban system more responsive and efficient.

2. Cumulative flow diagrams

In the Kanban system, a cumulative workflow is another visual tool which provides a layered view of all the main Kanban metrics. It consists of all different colored bands in which each of them represents different stages of the workflow. This Cumulative diagram allows to see the flow of tasks across the multiple stages in real time. While considering the work-in-progress layer, each layer offers these immediate insights which are mentioned below:

• When the layer of working-progress starts to expand, it’s a clear red flag that the tasks are accumulating and one can have a bottleneck.
• When the work-in-progress layer narrows, it suggest the tasks which are moving more quickly as compared to the new ones which are coming in. Thus, signaling that the team have some more bandwidth.

Cumulative flow diagram becomes more powerful tool for making decisions on time due to the ability of seeing these metrics which interacts in one place.

Conclusion

Therefore, Kanban metrics are used to measure using multiple metrics and methods which provides useful insights and efficiency to the Kanban system. However, in this article some of the most important key metrics and the tools which are used to measure these key metrics are mentioned to get a detailed knowledge about Kanban system.