Kanban Metrics

Kanban teams track a few simple numbers to understand how smoothly work flows through their board. These metrics replace the sprint-based measures used in Scrum.

Lead Time

Lead time measures how long a task takes from the moment someone requests it until the moment it finishes. This number reflects the customer's full waiting experience.

Request created -> ... -> Task marked Done
            (Lead Time)

Cycle Time

Cycle time measures how long a task takes once a team member actually starts working on it until it finishes. This number reflects the team's working speed rather than the customer's full wait.

Work started -> ... -> Task marked Done
        (Cycle Time)

Lead time always equals or exceeds cycle time, since lead time includes any waiting period before work even begins.

Throughput

Throughput counts how many tasks a team finishes within a set period, such as a week. A team with a throughput of ten cards per week can use that number to estimate how long a new batch of twenty cards might take.

Cumulative Flow Diagram

A cumulative flow diagram shows how many tasks sit in each stage of the workflow over time, stacked as colored bands. A widening band points to a growing bottleneck in that stage.

Done        ############
Review      ##########
In Progress ############
To Do       ########
            (each band grows over time)

Layman's Example

Think about ordering food delivery. Lead time covers the moment you place the order until the food reaches your door. Cycle time covers only the moment the restaurant starts cooking until the food leaves the kitchen. Throughput resembles how many orders the restaurant completes per hour.

Using Metrics to Improve Flow

A rising cycle time over several weeks suggests a growing problem somewhere in the process. Teams investigate the slow stage and apply fixes, such as adjusting a WIP limit or adding help to an overloaded step.

Key Takeaway

Lead time, cycle time, and throughput give Kanban teams clear numbers to track flow and speed. These metrics help teams spot problems early and predict delivery more accurately.