Why Visual Management Matters
Visual management is a cornerstone of Lean and Continuous Improvement. By making information clear at a glance, it reduces waste, improves communication, and keeps teams aligned. One of the most effective tools in visual management is colour coding — a simple but powerful way to bring clarity and structure into the workplace.
Among the colours used, yellow plays a particularly important role. Its visibility and universal recognition make it an ideal choice for highlighting standards, priorities, and safety in visual management systems.
The Power of Colour in Visual Management
Colour coding is widely used in 5S and Lean systems to create instant understanding. Each colour should always carry a consistent meaning so that employees know what to do without needing to stop and think.
Yellow is often chosen because it is:
- Highly visible – it stands out from a distance.
- Widely understood – associated with attention, action, and caution.
- Practical – easy to apply on boards, zones, and signage.
In visual management boards and workplace organisation systems, yellow brings clarity and makes continuous improvement more visible.
Examples of Yellow in Visual Management
Here are some common ways teams use yellow in their workplace visuals:
5S Boards and Workplace Organisation
Yellow borders and markings are frequently used in 5S to define zones, equipment storage, or tool outlines. This helps teams maintain order and immediately see if something is missing or out of place.
Cleaning Stations
Cleaning tools and equipment become more visible when stored on boards with yellow highlights or tool outlines. This makes daily 5S cleaning routines quicker and easier to sustain.
KPI Boards and Performance Tracking
On KPI boards, yellow sections or status markers draw attention to performance gaps, priority targets, or issues that require follow-up. They make performance data easier to understand at a glance.
Visual Status Indicators
Magnets, tags, or cards in yellow (or amber) are often used as intermediate signals — such as “needs attention” or “pending.” They provide a simple visual cue before problems escalate.
Best Practices for Colour in Visual Management
When introducing colour coding into your visual management systems, keep these principles in mind:
- Consistency is key – always use colours to mean the same thing across your workplace.
- Contrast matters – yellow with black provides excellent visibility, for example, making it especially effective for safety visuals.
- Maintain your visuals – keep the standard clear.
Conclusion
Colour is an essential tool in visual management, helping teams act faster, stay organised, and maintain standards. Yellow, in particular, adds clarity, urgency, and visibility across 5S boards, cleaning stations, KPI boards, and status indicators.
Explore our gallery of workplace examples to see how yellow visual management brings continuous improvement to life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Colour in Visual Management
What is colour coding in visual management?
Colour coding is the use of consistent colours to communicate information quickly in the workplace. In Lean and 5S systems, it helps teams understand zones, tools, and priorities without needing detailed instructions.
Why is yellow important in visual management?
Yellow is highly visible and universally associated with attention. It is often used to highlight areas that need action, to mark zones, or to signal intermediate status such as “pending” or “requires checking.”
How is yellow used in 5S systems?
In 5S workplace organisation, yellow is commonly used for floor markings, tool outlines, cleaning stations, and signage. It makes it easy to see when something is out of place or missing.
Which colours are most common in visual management?
Yellow, red, green, blue, and black are widely used. Each colour carries a consistent meaning: for example, red often signals danger or urgent action, while green is associated with normal operation or “good.”
Further information
Looking to introduce stronger visual management systems into your workplace? Our custom boards and stations are designed to make continuous improvement visual. Contact us today to learn more.
Fit in with your own branding colour
Colour code cleaning stations
Use yellow or amber for middle status
Black and yellow connotes hazard or caution
Yellow is visually striking
Inspiring action, yellow is engaging
Add yellow for a celebratory hue
Deliver strong contrast and visual resonance
Brightly convey a sense of responsibility to your team
Use yellow as part of colour coding
A visual cue in shades of yellow
Further examples
Continuous Improvement steps
CI Kanban board with status tickets
Short Interval Control
Continuous Improvement strategy board
QMS Overview Board
Theatre Improvement Board
CI foreign langauage board
Continuous Improvement status
Concerns Board
Complaints board
Short Interval Control
Continuous Improvement board
Short Interval Control
PDCA board
Use status circles for updates
Kaizen for KPI tracking
Line Continuous Improvement
Kanban Continuous Improvement
Dry wipe status circles
Plan Do Check Act status dial
Processes for Continuous Improvement
Kaizen for Continuous Improvement
Loss Elimination Board
Colour coding Continuous Improvement
Colour code your Plan Do Check Act
Show your targets
Plan Do Check Act Board
Continuous Improvement Process Board
Use colour for Continuous Improvement
Use colour in your 5S design
Kaizen room meeting schedule
Lean environment strategies
The PDCA cycle visually
Show Continuous Improvement visually
Plan Do Check Act status dial
Kaizen PFU boards
Errors Board
Short Interval Control Board
Kanban Continuous Improvement
PDCA cycle
Show your processes
Track daily progress
Workstream whereabouts CI
SIC status board
Track customer feedback performance
Add status dials to your 6S board
Update progress with status meters
Plan Do Check Act board
Use the Plan Do Check Act cycle
Food Production CI
KATA Improvement
Plan Do Check Act
Track targets as a department
KPI board with document holders
Practical Problem Solving board
Visual Management with status dials
Status dials with percentages
Use dry wipe status indicators
Quality Station Continuous Improvement
Our Approach
We create visual management boards everyday. As a result we have plenty of experience. We work for organisations in food production, the power industry, national rail, pharmaceuticals, education, healthcare, packaging and distribution.
Our team works with a simple idea or sketch and creates a professionally designed layout. This is then turned into a highly functional visual management board.
We offer customised options because we want to create the perfect board for you. So, here are a few examples. We can add magnetic areas or a dry-wipe finish (for use with whiteboard pens). Furthermore, you can choose Red/Green sliders or R.A.G. (Red, Amber, Green) status dials so you can quickly and visually update your board. These are just a few examples of the ways in which our boards can be tailored to meet your needs. You may also be interested in whiteboard overlays that can be used on top of an existing magnetic board.
