kanban

This term originates from Japanese manufacturing practices and carries a connotation of efficiency, visibility, and waste reduction. In a professional context, it is used as a technical term within lean manufacturing and agile project management. It describes a pull-based system where work is only started when there is a demand for it, rather than being pushed through a pipeline regardless of capacity.

While the word refers to the system itself, it is frequently paired with "board" to describe the physical or digital interface used to track tasks. In software development, it is often contrasted with "scrum," as kanban focuses on continuous flow rather than fixed-length sprints.