Visual management is a key theme in Lean Operations. Visual management uses signs, labels, charts, graphs, and other communication tools to provide data efficiently. Conveying this information visually reduces the time invested in reading, processing, and interpreting text-based instructions. The idea is for operators, supervisors, and managers to gain the maximum amount of information and control without having to leave the work area or go into a computer system.
Many Lean tools, especially TPM, KANBAN, and 5S rely heavily on visual aspects. KANBAN itself means “sign”, and TPM, as well as other Lean tools, base information sharing on simple techniques where the consumers of information can easily access or even produce it in real-time.
