Lean flow is the DevOps principle that focuses on identifying and eliminating bottlenecks in the Continuous Delivery Pipeline. Lean flow is the application of Lean thinking and principles to optimize the flow of value from ideation to delivery. Lean flow aims to reduce waste, increase efficiency, and deliver value faster and more reliably. Lean flow involves the following practices:
Reducing batch size – Breaking down large batches of work into smaller, more manageable pieces that can be delivered more frequently and with less risk.
Limiting work in progress (WIP) – Restricting the amount of work that can be started or in flight at any given time, to avoid overloading the system and creating queues and delays.
Implementing pull systems – Aligning the production and consumption of work by allowing downstream customers to pull work from upstream suppliers when they are ready, rather than pushing work based on forecasts or schedules.
Managing queue lengths – Monitoring and controlling the amount of work waiting to be processed at each stage of the value stream, to reduce lead time and variability.
Reducing handoffs – Minimizing the number of transitions and dependencies between different teams or individuals, to avoid communication gaps, context switching, and rework.
Implementing Work in Process (WIP) visualization – Making the work and its status visible to all stakeholders, using tools such as Kanban boards, Cumulative Flow Diagrams (CFDs), and Value Stream Maps (VSMs), to enable collaboration, coordination, and improvement.
Implementing Work in Process (WIP) feedback – Establishing fast and frequent feedback loops within and across the value stream, using tools such as automated testing, monitoring, and metrics, to detect and resolve issues, validate assumptions, and learn from outcomes3
