Visual Management – an Overview

What is Visual Management?• Visual Management is a set of techniques

for creating a workplace embracing visual communication and control throughout the work environment.

• The visual management philosophy is underpinned by the view that ‘what gets measured & displayed gets done’

• It makes it easy to understand the processes which have been put into place

The Vision

• The work environment should be immaculate, safe and self-cleaning

• Standards are easy to recognise and abnormal conditions are quickly identified, enabling speedy analysis & resolution.

• Performance and progress are readily apparent to employees.

• Plans are in place to significantly reduce or remove waste and defects in the process.

Two Tools of Visual Management

DisplaysTo make staff aware of

related data and information

– charts, graphs etc

ControlsTo guide the action of staff members – sign

boards, dos and don’ts signs

Visual Display• Using visual mechanisms to communicate

information• Visual display builds on the fourth ‘S’

(standardise)• Show how to do the job (standard, agreed-

upon best practice).• Show how things are used.• Show performance status.• Identify hazardous areas

Types of Visual Display• Product and process information• Area information, boundaries• Standard work instructions - Standard work

charts, etc• Performance information - tracking against key

metrics• Status of current issues and improvement

activities• Schedules of maintenance, calibration or other

support activities

Visual Control

• Goes beyond simply tracking and reporting performance and any

• Highlights deviations that occur from the planned outcomes.

• Many forms of visual control exist in the Lean workplace

Types of Visual Control

• Shadow boards

• Indicators on various items e.g. gauges

• Heijunka boards – showing the status of daily schedules

• Design pull systems (Kanban)

Benefits of Visual Management

• Leads to information sharing.• Facilitates worker autonomy.• Supports elimination of waste.• Fosters continuous improvement.• Exposes abnormalities.• Enables quick response & recovery.• Promotes prevention.• Maintains the gains.

Steps Required To Implement A Visual Management System

There are three basic steps:

1) Organise the workplace using 6S

2) Ensure that all required work standards, instruction and related information are clearly displayed in workplace

3) Control workplace processes by exposing and stopping errors and by preventing future occurrences