Jidoka is a software development methodology that aims to increase the automation and quality of a software project through the use
of models and pipelines.
Organisations often find themselves trapped in a costly cycle where aging legacy systems, nearing the end of
their life, require replacing. Unfortunately, these new systems inevitably face the same fate, negatively impacting business
agility. Jidoka is
a forward-thinking software development methodology that harnesses the power of modern tools and incorporates valuable lessons learned
from the software engineering domain.
The ultimate goal of Jidoka is to break the cycle of legacy systems and for organisations too mature into a mode of continuous
modernisation. At this maturity level, organisations no longer replace legacy systems but have a greater level of control and momentum
whereby they can update the legacy system to meet changing business conditions.
Learn about our process and solutions:
Models are the enabler that builds bridges across the organisation and systems.
Pipelines are the enabler that breaks down the walls between development and operations.
The software development industry has taken much inspiration from lean manufacturing. It is worth knowing as Agile, Scrum, Kanban, DevOps, and others have roots in this history. For example, TPS is a well-known implementation in lean manufacturing.
The Toyota Production System (TPS) was established based on two concepts: “jidoka” (which can be loosely translated as “automation with a human touch”), as when a problem occurs, the equipment stops immediately, preventing defective products from being produced; and the “Just-in-Time” concept, in which each process produces only what is needed for the next process in a continuous flow.
Most developers that read this interpret Jidoka as a mechanism to stop production to help ensure quality. While this has merit our interpretation focuses on bringing human and machine skills together to produce a result that neither could reach alone.
In other words, by implementing Jidoka, developers can meticulously build software by hand to their standards,
then, through incremental improvements, automate the process to scale and ensure quality.
Our hypothesis is that Jidoka is well-suited for large-scale modernisation projects where the benefits of automation are most acutely felt.
The Jidoka mantra breathes life into its values through ten guiding principles. Inspired from our lessons learned, the ten principles are:
Locally employed and highly skilled cross-functional squads that deliver your solution.
Jidoka, a software methodology that increased project quality and momentum through the use of models and pipelines.
A platform engineering tool that modernises enterprise software delivery for digital transformation and legacy systems.
As part of our commitment to sustainability and a greener future, we're planting one tree through 'Carbon Positive Australia' in exchange for your contact details.
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