Visual Management
Visual Management is an important aspect of the Toyota Production System. Visual management enables employees and management to quickly grasp situations on the plant floor. Visual management uses lists, control charts, and written standards to simply operations. Here are some real-world examples of visual management at work in a handful of important categories:
Manpower / Employee Training:
Training lists show which workers have completed which core training courses. This allows supervisors to quickly ascertain who is qualified for what tasks--- as well as the aggregate skill level of the department or work group
Written work standards illustrate how to perform processes. These standards should include photos and/or illustrations. Standards should be posted at each workstation in a location where employees can clearly see them.
Machine Maintenance
- Every machine should have a posted maintenance schedule and maintenance standard.
- Proper lubrication levels, and the frequencies for exchanging expendable parts should be posted on the machine
- As much as possible, the working parts of production machines should be visible to operators. This often involves replacing metal and plastic machine covers with transparent ones.
Inventory Control
A kanban is a barcoded sign that is attached to bins of production components. Kanbans clearly identify components to avoid confusion. Kanbans also help manage materials flow. When a production worker removes a kanban from an empty components bin, she forwards it to the production materials personnel. The forwarded kanban is a trigger for the them to bring a full bin of components to the production line.