How To: Visual Management

Lean in the Airport

Why is it that when we are in the airport, we don’t wander aimlessly around?

It is because airport designers, just like Lean practitioners, know how to use visual management. Lean processes should have what airports have: easy to recognize signals that keep things flowing in the right direction.

Whenever there is a part of a process that takes longer than it should, or has chronic quality issues, consider putting in some visual signals.

· Color code parts to a specific model

· Use numbers on the floor to indicate the sequence of operations

· Use a standard taping convention to designate locations for equipment

· Place yellow tags on items in a service center that are approaching a due date, and red tags once they are late

Use visual management to greatly improve your operation. Take a look at our article on 5S and our Lean Glossary for more related information. 

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