Above all, the principles of successful visual management are to achieve the following:
- Making status visual, at a glance
- Upholding standards
- Setting and meeting targets
- Problem solving
- Taking action
- Sustaining positive habits
In short, successful visual management is translating these principles visually. So how do you achieve this? Taking each one in turn, see further examples and ideas to explain how…
Principles of successful visual management – making status visual
Making status visual is imperative. Most importantly, successful visual management achieves this. Above all, at a glance. As a result, use visual status indicators at every opportunity.
While Red Amber Green (RAG) is useful in some cases. For example, to show “action required”, “in progress” and “complete”. Nevertheless, for a binary approach Red Green is most clear. So, therefore, “compliant” or “not compliant”. In other words, there is no “partially compliant” option. So, for example, this gives a very clear message about fulfilling Health and Safety objectives.
Principles of successful visual management – meeting standards
Effectively meeting and upholding standards relies on key steps. In short, as follows:
- Firstly, making standards visual
- Secondly, updating standards as and when necessary
In other words, make them visible and accessible. For example, by adding visual standards to a 5S board. Likewise, showcasing Health & Safety standards. In addition, updating them anytime.
Principles of successful visual management – targets
Above all, making target visual is only the first step. Successful visual management will further deliver a means to track progress relating to targets. So, for instance, on a Gemba board by offering daily tracking functionality.
Principles of successful visual management – problem solving
Most importantly, define, understand and work through a problem visually. So describing the problem visually is part way to resolving it. Consequently, successful problem solving boards make problem solving accessible and visible.
As a result, highlight and eliminate problems efficiently. Above all, find the root cause of an issue, discover countermeasures and implement a plan to solve the problem.
Principles of successful visual management – taking action
A key task of successful visual management board is to make clear when action needs to be taken. Consequently, this is the first step to taking action. In other words, to provide a visual prompt for when action needs to be taken.
Putting in place an action plan further offers a means of assigning responsibility. Therefore, there is accountability for completing actions.
Principles of successful visual management – sustaining positive habits
So, Visual management can drive Continuous Improvement. In other words, by facilitating the sustainment of positive actions. Above all, creating a habit.
Making status visual and accessible, at a glance
Make standards visual and clear
Set targets and reach goals
Daily target tracking
Visual problem solving
Drive an action plan
Sustain positive habits
Further examples
Short Interval Control
Concerns Board
Short Interval Control
Continuous Improvement strategy board
QMS Overview Board
Theatre Improvement Board
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.
