Flow Optimization - WIP & Aging Limits, Returns Counters, Flow Efficiency
- Yuri (Unlicensed)
- Yuri Lapin
CLOUD DATACENTER
Topics
Introduction to Limits
Once you visualized the flow it’s time to optimize it. The App has 2 solutions helping you fine tune the flow and identify areas of improvements. They are the following:
Work-in-Progress Limits to identify unnecessaries queueing, buffering and therefore waiting time due not balanced multitasking.
Aging (Cycle Time) Limits to identify tasks that are stuck in the flow that most probably gonna break expectations of deliveries or more formal SLO (Service Level Objectives)
Next sections outline both functionalities in all the details.
Work-in-Progress (WIP) limits
The App provides ultimate flexibility in configuring Work-in-Progress (WIP) limits, namely
per columns, swimlanes and their intersections
column groups
personal WIPs (board level limits)
Here you can watch a small video find out some details.
WIPs per columns, swimlanes and their intersections
To make it for Swimlanes click Swimlane “Edit“. In popup dialog you can specify Min and Max values as well as color code how you want to highlight swimlanes for exceeding the limits.
To do the same for columns click on Column “Edit”. The functionality is the same if you want WIP limits for entire column. But you can also make it more granular and define WIP limits per swimlanes in the column. For this click on “WIP by swimlane“ toggle.
WIPs per column groups
Once you have your group defined you can now assign a Combined WIP. Click “Edit“ icon of the group to select Min/Max and appropriate color coding.
Since you might have multiple WIPs applied with different color coding the order how different WIPs are applied is the following:
Group WIPs
Column WIPs / with Swimlane WIPs
Swimlane WIPs
Personal WIPs (Board level limits)
You can also configure individual WIPs for users. To do so click on “Personal WIP“ in the menu ribbon
Select Min, Max color coding you would like to use for limits exemption as well as columns you would to limit. From the list of available users please add people and specify individual min/max limit numbers
Click Save.
Personal WIP menu items will change to show the number of users that are subject for the limit control and for how many users the limits are exceeded.
By clicking on the icon with Exceeded user you will see the details on
Who exceeded?
what limits - min or max?
by how much?
Once you click on “Exceeded user“ the user filter will be automatically applied for the board for you to see only this user issues. This is aligned with assignee filter (assignee carousell) meaning once you click on “exceeded user“ assignee filter for this user will apply automatically
To clear the filter click on it again or click on user avatar in assignee carousell.
Aging or Cycle Time limits
Comparing to WIP limits that are about issue count aging/cycle time limits are about the time issue sits in specific column/column group.
Show on the card?
To outline your Aging/Cycle time limits status on the card click on Settings > Card layout.
Turn on Aging Limits and decide if you want to count w/e as well.
Once you get it set you will see dots on the card under user avatar:
Red if at least one red aging limit is exceeded
Yellow if at least one amber aging limit is exceeded (and no red limit exceeded)
Otherwise Green
Once you put mouse over it you will see all the detail.
Aging limits per column/swimlane
Click Edit for any column you want to change. Navigate to limits section.
You can specify Amber Limit and Red Limit in hours, days, weeks.
If you want to do it per swimlane within column select appropriate toggle and select swimlanes you want to control.
Aging limits per column group/swimlane
The same level configuration could be done for column groups. Click Edit on any column group and navigate to limits section to do similar configurations you did for columns.
Board level Aging Limits
In addition to Aging/Cycle Time limits for columns/groups you can define board level limits - aka define aggregated limit of time you wan the tickets sit in selected columns.
To make it done we renamed Personal WIP configuration to make it Board Limits were you now have 2 tabs - 1) Personal WIPs applied to board and 2) Aging/Cycle Time applied to the board as well.
When you click on it and select Aging tab you would need to turn on “Enable Aging limit“ toggle.
Now you can define:
what columns you want to add to calculation
amber limit (if applicable)
red limit (if applicable)
Once you add it the counter close to Board Limits will increase to +1 or +2 appropriately.
Alerts on Return Counters
Managing aging/cycle time is good to understand how you can improve the throughput. To understand why cycle time is more than expected and/or check how efficient your flow is .. it’s recommended to manage returns to the columns (or ping-pong between columns).
Show on the card?
To outline your Aging/Cycle time limits status on the card click on Settings > Card layout.
Turn on Returns to get a return counter on the right bottom corner of your card.
if it’s Zero it will be Greyed out
otherwise you see a number of Returns in Black
in case of alert (missing some of the limits) health indicator will outline all the limits exceeded (including both aging and returns)
Returns limits per column/swimlane
Click Edit for any column you want to change. Navigate to limits section.
You can specify Amber Limit and Red Limit of returns to that column.
If you want to do it per swimlane within column select appropriate toggle and select swimlanes you want to control.
Returns limits per column group/swimlane
The same level configuration could be done for column groups. Click Edit on any column group and navigate to limits section to do similar configurations you did for columns.
Board level Returns Limits
In addition to Returns limits for columns/groups you can define board level limits - aka define aggregated limit of # of times you allow the tickets to slide back to selected columns all together.
When you click on it and select Returns tab you would need to turn on “Enable Returns Limits“ toggle.
Now you can define:
what columns you want to add to calculation
amber limit (if applicable)
red limit (if applicable)
Once you add it the counter close to Board Limits will increase to +1 or +2 appropriately.
Flow Efficiency
ADVANCED EDITION
Efficiency Calculation is a fundamental element of throughput optimization in Kanban and Lean in general.
In Advanced Kanban & Agile Boards we provide a native support for Efficiency Calculation by
Defining what columns are waiting, active and what are excluded from the calculation
Calculate Efficiency for each and every issue as
Efficiency, % = ActiveTime / (ActiveTime + WaitingTime)
Mark columns as Waiting, Aactive or Excluded
Click Edit for any column and scroll to Type
Select Active, Waiting or Excluded.
Show Efficiency Calculation on the Card
Go to Board Settings > Card Layout and toggle on
If configured Efficiency Calculation will be outlined on each issue card, as below
Efficiency Thresholds and Alerts
Similar to WIP & Aging Limits also Thresholds on Return Counters you can configure Thresholds for Flow Efficiency.
You need to click Edit for any Column or Column Group and scrill to Efficiency Limits
Put Amber and/or Red Limit in % and click Save.
You can also do it on Board level by clicking Board Limits and select Efficiency tab
Turn on the toggle for efficiency limits to configure Amber and/or Red Limits.
As a result, if the issue will fail either of the limits - column, column group or board level you will see an health indicator to outline the limit exceeded.
Enjoy it!