Visual Management in Lean Manufacturing

Lean Management with Visual Displays and Communication Boards

Visual management displays are a hallmark of lean enterprises. Whether it is scoreboards, production control charts, team communication boards, or other types, visual management displays keeps vital information flowing between lean management and employees, as well as between individuals, cells and departments. They open communication and information sharing within the lean enterprise.

Examples of Visual Management applications include:

Goal-setting and performance tracking

Employees need visual displays that show what is expected of them and how they are performing against those goals. These display boards are critical to success because they show trends in key performance indicators, preferably in real time.

Scheduling and production control

Many of the “who,” “what,” and “when” questions that arise in high-mix, small-lot facilities are also best addressed using display boards that communicate schedules, work orders, due dates, etc. Employees should have easy access to the visual management boards so they can quickly ascertain what they need to do next; this helps eliminate time wasted searching, asking and waiting for verbal instructions and supervision.

Idea sharing and team communication

Kaizen improvements achieve the best results when performed as a team-based endeavor; communication boards serve a useful role in getting everyone involved in sharing ideas, identifying root causes, and brainstorming countermeasures.

Report kaizen results and awards

Visual displays are also beneficial for presenting results and recognizing achievements among a kaizen event team. Tracking boards and visual management tools are especially important in multi-shift operations where groups rarely have the opportunity to meet face-to-face.

Visual Management Applications for Display Boards

Learn more about Lean Communication Boards and how to customize them for a variety of applications in the workplace.