Visual Management-Visual management is simply the ability to manage things visually.-Effective visual management will allow a person to get the information required with as littleobservation as possible.-A lean manufacturing technique that communicates important information in the physicalworkplace. It is a system of:Information displaysVisual controlsLabels and signsColor codingOther markings-Lean organizations rely heavily on visual management to detect abnormalities and reinforcestandards while ensuring stability and safety in the workplace.-An effective visual management system seeks to display production status and performanceinformation, communicate standards and work instructions, make problems and abnormalitiesas apparent as possible, and show identity and directions.-It can also reduce the opportunity for miscommunication, highlights abnormalities anddeviations, and provides an immediate insight to what needs to be done next.-Because when problems and deviations are visible and apparent to all, immediate correctiveaction can be taken to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the processes.-Research shows that people tend to learn and process information more visually. Therefore,effective visual communications can have impact on safety, productivity, cost, quality, on-timedelivery, inventory, and equipment reliability.One important element of visual management is visual control. Visual control is any device or symbolthat effectively places information at the point of use with few words or none at all. Visual managementand visual controls go hand in hand. Therefore, they are the lifeblood of a lean production system.Visual controls have the potential to help identify problems, reduce waste, reduce production costs,shorten lead times, reduce inventory, create a safe working environment, and even increase profits.
