Subsequent and Preceding Processes:

A subsequent procedure is defined as that manufacturing process, which is carried out after the current generate. On the contrary, which is done before the current process shall be its preceding process? For instance, a work centre that receives assembled parts is a subsequent procedure to the process that assembles the parts and the same is the preceding process for the work centre. A Kanban shall always send parts to subsequent processes and it shall always obtain the parts from the preceding process. In brief, a Kanban system comprises a set of cards that travel between preceding and subsequent processes, communicating what parts are required in the subsequent processes.

Figure illusrtrates the process flow using three processes, 1, 2, and 3. Process 1 sends its parts to the process 2 and process 2 send its parts to process 3. Thus, Process 1 is the preceding process of process 2 and process 2 is the preceding process of process 3.

Likewise, on the other hand, process 2 is the subsequent process of process 1 and process 3 is the subsequent process of process 2. Also the processes are not exclusively associated, i.e. a process may be preceding and subsequent processes of many other processes at the same time.

Figure: Subsequent and Preceding Process Flow