Visual Management

What is visual management?

Visual management is one of the lean techniques designed so that anyone entering a work place, even those who are unfamiliar with the detail of the processes, can very rapidly see what is going on, understand it and see what is under control and what isn´t. Essentially, the current status of the operation can be assessed, at a glance.

Which of these is easiest to understand?

APAGOREUETAI TO KAPNISMA or VIETATO FUMARE or ?

They all mean the same thing, but unless you speak Greek or Italian, the first two instructions may not have been clear. Pictures, diagrams and visual representations of processes are the easiest way of getting messages across. If we want someone to understand how files should be organized on shelves, the easiest way is to take a photo of the right way with a big OK, and a photo of the wrong with a big X.

Visual management evolved in factories, but its principles equally in any setting, from offices to call centres. Ask yourself this, with a basic idea of what your organization does, could someone walk into your building/office and understand ehat the process is? Would they be able to see how work passes through the process, or people pass through the service? Do we make it easier for staff to perform by creating a visual workplace? If the answer to any of these questions is no, read on..

What does visual management help you to do?

Visual management helps you:

• Understand and indicate work priorities

• See whether performance (usually daily) was met

• Identify the flow of work and what is being done

• Identify when something is going wrong or not happening

• Show what standards of work should be

• Communicate yo everyone what performance measures are in place

• Demonstrate all the elements required for safe and effective work

• Provide real time feedback to everyone involved in the whole process

• Cut down on meetings to discuss work issue.

How to develop a visually managed workplace

Most of us have some visual clues in our workplaces. They may include notices with instructions, signs pointing to other places, or pictures of products or services. They sometimes help, but often notice literally become part of the wallpaper, lack relevance, and are soon ignored. How do we ensure then, that we have a relevant and effective approach to visual management?

There are numerous techniques involved in visual management and we describe these below. It is important though when establishing a visually managed workplace, that we sequentially work through a simple process, rather than throwing in a few tools.

Squares

Techniques used in visual management

The techniques used to create a visually managed workplace fall into a number of categories:

...