Balancing flows

Balancing the flow involves as far as possible, achieving an even distribution of work between resources.

The balancing of a flow needs to be based on detailed information on the capacity of each process. In automatic processes, this may involve establishing cycle times, process efficiency, etc., while in manual processes this is largely a question of information based on the standardized work. When the underlying facts are known, work content can be allocated to flow resources with relatively simple means.

The more balanced flow, the greater capacity. A well-balanced flow also makes it easier to detect deviations, thus forming the basis of the improvement work. By resolving these deviations, capacity can be further increased.