Poka Yoke Definition

A good poka yoke definition is simply ‘mistake proofing’. Of note, the term poka yoke is of Japanese origin and is one of the handful of the more commonly used Japanese terms that have become mainstream in Lean circles.

Poka yokes keep processes from producing errors. Preventing errors obviously improves quality, but it also plays a major role in improving productivity. With no rework, and easier production, cycle times and lead times both become much shorter. And, of course, faster production with fewer defects means lower costs.

While the term poka yoke originated on the shop floor, it is equally relevant in office, healthcare, and service settings.

Another similar term, baka yoke, meaning ‘fool proofing’, has fallen into minimal use, likely for reasons of political correctness. As an aside, the term poka yoke is also frequently used as a verb, as in ‘John, can you please poka yoke that fixture?’

Of note, the last ‘e’ in the term is often pronounced as a long ‘a’.

Mistake-proofing poka yoke devices surround people, preventing costly problems in their everyday lives.

Examples of Real-World Poka Yokes

• Car keys are one of the most widely used poka yoke devices. They can be inserted with either side up.
• Overflow drains on a sink (the holes high up on the side) are examples of poka yoke devices that prevent making a mess when filling the basin up with water.
• Most computer manufacturers poka yoke their cables so the plugs only fit in one way. This prevents damage to the system.
• Printers stop printing when the paper is out. This keeps them from spreading ink all over the internal mechanisms of the machine.
• A sensor in a gas nozzle knows when your tank is full. This is a poka yoke that prevents dangerous messes by shutting off the pump.
• Your ice maker in your freezer shuts off when the bucket is full.
• Your washing machine ends the spin cycle when it is out of balance.

The list could go on and on and on. As you can see, if you use the loose ‘mistake proofing’ definition, poka yoke devices are everywhere.

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A poka yoke device must make it physically impossible to make a mistake. While a poka yoke is often a physical device, such as a fixture that only accepts parts one way, processes and parts can also be designed to have a built-in poka yoke.

Some poka yoke examples:

• Poka Yoke in Parts Design (primarily in manufacturing)
  • Hydraulic hoses and wiring harnesses can have different size connectors. Hoses and wires can also be cut to lengths that make it impossible to install incorrectly.
  • Parts can be either reversible (no incorrect orientation) or keyed to make sure they will always be installed properly.
• Poka Yoke Fixture (Physical Device) Designs
  • Machines can have stops to prevent the wrong raw materials or components from being installed (fixture design).
  • Racks can have only enough spaces to carry the proper number of parts.
  • A scale can be added to a packing station. If the weight was outside of the proper range, software would prevent a label from printing.
  • Electric-eye sensors can be installed in front of parts bins. The operator must trip them in the proper sequence and quantity prior to a line shifting.
  • A computer program can prevent entering an order if the zip code does not match the city.
• Poka Yoke Process Design
  • Two parts that are commonly mixed up can be moved to separate workstations to prevent errors.
  • The sequence of installation can be changed to prevent one part from damaging another. This commonly happens when large heavy parts are installed over fragile parts, or when tools must be used in tight spaces.

Safety switches are similar to poka yokes. The little switch that keeps the microwave from running when the door is opened is a safety device that keeps you from zapping yourself if you try to get your food before the ‘ding’. The same is true of dual hand switches on heavy machines that must be pressed for the machine to run. They are great—they keep your hands attached to your body. Just keep in mind that as important as these safety devices are, they don’t protect the output of the process. Poka yokes will protect you and deliver uncompromising quality.

Poka yokes can take some precision to fabricate. Identify a person that can become an expert on building mistake-proofing devices. Many manufacturing companies have a tooling group that is a source of great candidates. Just be careful that they don’t over-engineer solutions. Simple is better.

Most of these examples come from the shop floor where poka yoke has its roots. Because office processes tend to be more focused on people and software than on parts and machines, there tend to be fewer opportunities for mistake-proofing by frontline employees. Despite this, it is still very important in the office.

Computers and software are full of poka yokes. Field filters might ensure that the proper number of digits are entered for a phone number. A poka yoke in a call center may sign a person out of if his phone rings more than 4 times without an answer. This keeps the customer from waiting. Restricting functionality based on user type (administrator vs. user) is another example.

Become familiar with poka yokes. They contribute to your success in two important ways. First, they improve cycle times which clearly benefits standard work. After all, when a process is mistake-proofed, it gets far quicker.

The gas pump example illustrates the point. How much longer would it take to fill a tank if you had to know how much gas you had to start, and subtract that from the capacity of your tank, and then slow down the pump when you got close to being full? The zip code poka yoke example reduces rework for the customer service group. They have fewer lost orders to take care of. Mistake proofing also speeds up processes because it eliminates the need for inspections, since there is no way for bad parts to slip through.

The second benefit of poka yokes is improved quality. Obviously, if there is no way to make a mistake, defects can’t slip through.

• Don’t confuse a gauge with a poka yoke. A gauge identifies a problem, but an operator must remember to use it. Measuring devices, such as a ruler taped besides a cable cutting device, can make it easier to cut the right length of cable. But since they don’t prevent problems, they are not poka yokes.
• Don’t forget to review your poka yokes from time to time. Despite the definition of poka yoke as ‘mistake proofing’, no device is permanent. When processes or products change over time, poka yokes can become less effective.

Poka yokes are among the most beneficial Lean concepts for frontline workers. They keep you from making mistakes, but more importantly, they take the worry about making mistakes away from you. With less concern about problems, you can direct your energy in a more positive direction. Jobs where you are constantly concerned about missing production targets, or scrambling to change plans when you have to stay late to do rework are never any fun.

Develop a talent for identifying opportunities for mistake-proofing devices. They will prevent you from making errors that can be a major source of frustration and conflict with your co-workers. Processes where you must pay close attention to avoid mistakes are a good place to start looking.

If you recognize places where a device can help, even if you don’t have a fully developed idea, present it to your coworkers, your boss, or an engineer that supports you. They will be able to add to your thoughts, and will probably help you come up with a good solution to improve your quality.

• If you are training your team about poka yokes, search your company for any existing devices in use. Then physically show the examples to your student, and let them talk to the operator. Seeing the concept in use by a coworker really makes the lesson sink in.
• Poka yokes are also good relationship building devices. One source of friction between leaders and teams is when bosses have to make corrections on employees. Eliminate the source of mistakes, and you eliminate the hard conversations.
• Poka yoke devices are a great way to show respect for people. They make jobs easier, and let people focus on coming up with better ways to do their jobs rather than spending their energy trying to avoid mistakes.

• The definition of poka yoke is simply ‘mistake-proofing’.
• Poka yokes are equally important in the office and on the shop floor.
• Becoming good at making poka yokes takes practice. The more you create, the easier they are to develop.

Make sure your team is trained on quality and poka yokes. What seems intuitive to some is not to others. Don’t assume everyone has the same perception about quality.

Find a persistent quality problem to address, and try to resolve it with a poka yoke. This will be easiest in an area with standard work, as the process the poka yoke supports will not vary.

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