Getting Your Business Visual outlines steps for implementing a visual workplace to improve business efficiency. It recommends starting simply, such as with a whiteboard updating daily expectations, before expanding to include meaningful performance metrics. An important part of the visual system is an Andon light indicating production issues requiring immediate resolution to avoid developing a culture where the lights are ignored. Finally, visual signals like Kanbans should be used to accommodate lean practices and reduce inventory waste through efficient pull systems. The overall message is to empower the workforce to develop effective visual communication methods tailored to their specific processes.

1. Getting Your Business Visual
One of the mostdifficultphasesof improvingbusiness efficiencyisimplementing avisual workplace.
We have all seenthe isolated examplesthatconsultants andacademiarecite but gettingthe correct
systemsinplace foryour business environmentisessential. Donotadapt huge expense ingettingthe
methodsinplacesintheirinfancy of the conversion, butplace simple methodsthatmayrequire more
administrativeeffortduringdevelopment. Visual systems tendtoevolveasthe workforce becomes
familiarwiththemand offersuggestions.
The most importantvisual systemsare onesthatshow whatis expected foroutputs. Youmaywant to
simplyinvoke awhite boardthatisupdateddailywithan indication of whatis expected daily. Asyour
systemdevelops,you will include meaningfulmetrics of performance. Thiscanbe,but notlimitedto,a
weeklyoutput,monthlyoutput,yeartodate outputs,efficiencies,productivity etc. The workforce will
tell youwhatis meaningful tothemandthat whichallowsthemtoknow how theyare performing.
Most industries showdonotgo beyondmonthly informationatthisstage andsave the yearto date
performance forall-handsmeetings. If isessential thatthe posted informationismeaningful. The
systemshouldevolve toavisual displayof takttime versusperformance. There are several digital
displaysthatallowpeopletohita toggle a buttonor switcheverytime adeliverismade. The takttime
can be administrated by eitherthe leadorsupervisorinthe area. This allowsareal time displayof
performance thatisaccurate to the minute.
Anothervital partof the visual systemisanAndonlight.Thisisan indicatorof twoelements. The firstis
the performance obstaclesinthe cell. A red,yellow,greenlight displayiseasytounderstand. A green
lightmayindicate the workcell ison targetand all assetsare runningcorrectly. A yellow lightindicates
that takt time cannotbe met butall assetsare runningcorrectly. A red lightthatindicatesthere isan
assetproblemormaterial shortage thatisslowingof shuttingthe cell down. The yellowlight indicates
that manufacturingorindustrial engineeringneedstospeak withthe cell forchanges and/orresolution.
The red shouldrequire that management, yourmaintenance group,orengineering needstoexpedite
resolution. Itisessential thatwe reactto those lights expeditiously because the lackof response will
evolve aculture suggestingthatthe lightisnotvaluable andexecutingthe visualsignal istherefore
useless. The secondtype of Andonlightisusuallyusedinan assembly environment. Thislightwouldbe
a digital readoutof anyparts holdingupthe productionof a the cell creatingdelaysandwaittime. This
lightrequiresthatcommunications be made tothe cell andtimelinesassociatedwithresolution be
developed. None of these lights shouldgetturnedoff orreturnedtogreenunlessthe issue istotally
resolvedorpartsare nowon hand. These lightsshouldbe periodicallyreviewedbydedicatedpersonnel
and certainlyreviewedduringadaily Gembawalks.
The nextpart of a visual workplace isavisual workflow. A hospital mayput differentstripesonthe
floorso thateveryone understandswheretogo. It also can be signage thatshowsthe stepsor stations
ina process. Thisallowseveryone toidentifyworkflow andobserve anybottlenecks. Thisiseasyto
accomplishina standardizedhighvolume taskingbutcanbe more contrivedin a mixedmodel ortasking
flow. However,theyare all attainable andeasytoimplements.

2. Finally,we needtocreate Kanbans,Heijunkabox orwheels,orothervisual signalstoaccommodate lean
pull andoverproductionelimination. Aswe progressthroughlean,we will continue toreduce inventory
and waste throughmore efficientmethodsof leantool usage. There are manyothertoolsand
methodologiesthatcanbe implemented. Educate yourworkforce andempowerthemtoimplement
whatis the most effective communicationmethodsforgoodproductive flow andwaste elimination.
Theyknowthe processesandknowwhatwill indicate tothemtheirperformance. Enjoythe processand
admire yourworkforce'sknowledge of leanimplementation. Theywillmake yoursystemsuccessful if
youengage and empowerthem.