Description:

·        Visual Management is the establishment of a workplace where performance conditions can be understood by sight such that problem areas are highlighted in order to:

·        Expose waste in the process and take action and eliminate waste! Visual displays and controls help keep processes running as efficiently as they were designed to run.

·        One of the most important benefits of a visual workplace is that even someone unfamiliar with the process can, within a matter of minutes, know what is happening, identify errors, and can tell if anything is out of place or missing.

·         Visual management tools are used to:
          • Provide status at a glance, enabling quick and simple detection of abnormal operating conditions
          • Provide visual aids to help employees complete tasks more quickly and in a more standardized approach

·        Visual management creates a standardized work environment by providing instructions, directions, reminders, etc., on how the work is to be done.

·        There are limitless possibilities in applying visual management. In fact, most companies probably have some visual management devices already in place.

·        From signs, to painted aisles, to dial indicators on equipment, these basic applications of visual management exist in most operating or administrative environment.

·        The key is to find creative ways to apply visual management to reduce waste in activities, connections, and flows.

Some common visual management techniques include:

¤  Color coding

¤  Pictures / Graphics

¤  Kanban Cards / Coding

¤  Colored Lines / Address Grids

¤  Signage-Directions / Instructions

¤  Suggestion Program

¤  Skills Matrix

¤  Checklists

¤  SWI's

¤  Labeling

¤ Signals (lights, horns)

¤ Sample Boards / Tables

¤ Defect Boards / Tables

¤ Production Control Boards

¤ Scoreboards

¤ Area Information Boards

True visual management shares real-time information about the status of the factory:

•      What are our goals?

•      What are our key measures?

•      How is the factory performing in relation to those goals?

•      What is preventing us from reaching our goals?

Most importantly, how does my individual effort contribute toward success?

·        Ensuring that equipment operating

·        conditions can be monitored at all times and

·        any incipient deterioration in performance

·        identified without delay.

·        Point identification

·        Monitoring instruments shall be located outside the machine (or visible from machine exterior) and oriented towards the operator station.

·        Visual management can be used to monitor weekly, daily and hourly production efficiencies, quality issues, TPM, and performance issues.

·        Visual management is a tool that can be used by the Operators, Group Leaders, Area Managers and Sr. Managers.