Tag: visualdisplay

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Visual Management Boards

What is Visual Management Boards?

In Lean management, Visual Management represents the nervous system. When implementing Lean, visual management is a must-have tool. By visually connecting Lean tools and Lean management Lean management, Visual Management helps to amplify the impact of Lean management.


Most businesses have Visual Management Boards, which are one of the most basic Visual Management forms. Some so-called “Visual Management Boards” are simply “show boards,” which only display information, documents, or plans and do not allow readers to engage with them. Worse, the information contained in them is frequently outdated.


How Can You Tell If Your Visual Management Board Is Effective?

The Rule of Thirty-One Seconds.
Standards, problems, and actions should all be included in a true Visual Management Board.


  • Standard – Target performance, rather than average performance, is the benchmark in Lean. On the board, the criteria should be clearly stated, indicating how things should be if everything is flawless.

  • Problems Problems – What exactly is the issue? The issue is a deviation from standard, either in terms of actual performance (e.g., below target) or in terms of the standard itself (inaccurate target). One ice-cream plant operations manager informed me that they don’t need to improve because their efficiency is over 120 % every day. Actually, based on my observations, they had twice as many operators on the production line as were required.

  • Actions – When an issue arises, preventative steps should be done. Without action, a Visual Management Board is merely a display board. Your organization’s efficiency is determined by how effectively problems are addressed and actions are carried out. All of these features aid the user in comprehending what is happening in the work environment. It is only by bringing things to light that deviations (issues) can be identified and immediately addressed and resolved.

How does a Good Visual Management Board look like?

A good Visual Management Board, according to Visualmitra,
should follow the 31-second rule.


  • 1 Second – It can tell us if it’s normal (everything is fine in the work area) and meets the requirements (goal or plan) in less than a second. In simple terms, the work environment should “speak” to you. Typically, companies use green to signify good status (e.g. met target, on time) and red to show poor status (e.g. missed target, delayed).

  • 10 Seconds – If something isn’t normal, it notifies us in 10 seconds what the problem is. We implement effective visual management boards at Visualmitra to track and manage issues.

  • 20 Seconds – It tells us what action to take in 20 seconds, who is responsible for it, and what assistance is required. Actions without checks, or problems without actions, are a total waste on the board!

A proper Visual Management Board will aid communication between users and viewers while also increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of your company. The only limitation to the Visual Management Board’s design is your imagination! Visualmitra can help you improve the overall performance by Visual Management.

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lean managment Six Sigma

Visual Implementation of Lean Six Sigma

A quick search on the internet about the Origins of Six Sigma and we can find out as to where and who was instrumental in coining the term “Six Sigma”. Lean Six Sigma or popularly known as Six Sigma was Introduced by Motorola Company in the year of 1986 by Bill Smith who was accompanied by Mikel Harry. .


Six Sigma Concept was conceived with the need for Process Improvement in an organization. The need for Superior Quality products, eliminating wastes, cost saving, Increased output all culminated into defining some Tool or Philosophy to achieve the same. In today’s scenario, we have an efficient tool in Lean Six Sigma which can be Implemented in various efficient ways


Before we move ahead let us Understand the Methodology of Six Sigma and how can we have a successful Lean Six Sigma Implemented in our Organizations.


Phases of Lean Six Sigma at any Organization

DMAIC – Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control.

Every acronym has its own role to play in determining the quality of product and bringing about overall Process Improvement in an Organization. Let’s get to know each term in a little more detail,


  1. DEFINE: Organization identifies the Gaps in the Process and defines the goals & Objectives which helps in improving the processes & meet customer quality expectations. This can be communicated in an effective manner by having an attractive Visual Poster defining the focus, scope, direction, and motivation.

  2. MEASURE: Performance of the defined goal is a very crucial aspect and measuring the same forms a major aspect in Lean Six Sigma. Data Capturing mechanism needs to be setup of the Process. Performance Indicator Visual Displays aid in measuring activity of defined Process.

  3. ANALYSE: Analysis of the data captured and accumulated over a period of time is verified and Problems if any are noted down. Root cause of Variation is found out and Action Plan for the same in prepared. Visual tools like Pareto charts, Flow Diagrams, Fishbone diagram, 5 Why is utilized to get the actual Root Cause. Visual Management tools and Boards bring a detailed and simplified aspect to the Analysis phase.

  4. IMPROVE: After the Analysis it is very Important to initiate the Improvement Process. Techniques such as Kaizen, TQM, 5S, Facility Visual Management, Documentation etc. are utilized to address the Problematic area and eliminating the root causes. Visual Boards and posters aids in the overall Improvement Drive within the organization and acts as information communication media.

  5. CONTROL: Once the Improvements have been implemented the same has to be made standard and ensured changes implemented become the norm and not just cosmetic. Visual cues like Information boards and safety stickers, Instruction boards, Markings and Identification, Employee appreciation boards can form part of Standardizing the said Improvements.

    6. Lean Six Sigma in its entirety a Continual Improvement Process which can be streamlined and supported to a greater extent by Implementing Visual Management techniques .

How can Six Sigma Benefit my Organization/Business?

Implementing Six Sigma in any organization can have various benefits for the Business and bring about positive overall Improvement. Some of the common benefits observed are,


  • Process improvement in Business or Organization
  • Business efficiency is improved
  • Overall Growth in the output of organization
  • Reduction in Non-conformance of Process or product
  • Availability of records and data for taking decisions
  • MIS/ Performance monitoring helps for better achievement of business goals
  • Risks are identified and prompt action taken.
  • Growth mindset is inculcated among the Employees
  • Business Stability is Achieved
  • Compliance and Standardization is achieved
  • Higher asset utilization observed
  • High level of Customer Satisfaction

Successful Implantation of Lean Six Sigma offers a holistic benefit to all the processes and overall the entire Organization.


About Visualmitra & how we can assist in Six Sigma Implementation

Visualmitra has been in the Business of Facility Visual Management for the past 20 years and successfully helped organization achieve a Visually good looking and function Facility. Visualmitra has been successfully designed and Installed Posters, Signboards, MIS boards, Safety Instructions, Visual markings etc and have assisted organizations in successfully implementing Quality improvement tools like Six Sigma, TQM, Kaizen, ISO 9001:2015 etc.


Reach out to us at Visualmitra and be a part of the Visual change your organization always needed.

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Factory Visual Management Projects Fascility Visual Management

Create a Visual Factory with 5s system

The term “visual factory” refers to a method of lean manufacturing that incorporates visual data throughout the workplace. A visual factory employs a set of communication technologies to distribute information when and where it is required.


By answering inquiries, identifying equipment, products, and locations, describing activities and procedures, and offering safety alerts and preventive information, visual controls improve working environments. Visual tools also help employees be more productive by providing them with the information they need, when and when they need it.


How does a visual factory work?

A visual factory uses signs, labels, charts, info graphics, and other communication tools to communicate data in an effective manner as part of the lean manufacturing process. The time spent reading, digesting, and interpreting text-based instructions is cut in half when this information is presented graphically.

  • Procedures at work
  • The data that an employee requires in order to fulfill their duties
  • The general layout of the job site, as well as important access points (such as aisles, doors, and routes) where information might be useful to an employee
  • What a company aims to achieve by creating a visual factory

Employers should consider applying 5S, a lean manufacturing method that eliminates waste, promotes consistency, and fosters facility-wide organisation, while analyzing these areas. Visual order is one of the basic ideas of 5S methodology , making it an ideal tool for constructing a visual factory.


The next stage is to figure out how to share the data.


This is accomplished through a set of visual cues and systems that are tailored to the needs of a particular workplace. Among these are:

  • Visual Identification display boards give real-time information about the state of production (or a process) in a facility and warn workers when help is required.
  • Employees can use floor marking aids and way finding markers to locate paths, entrances, exits, navigational aids, and other instructions.
  • Inventory, storage, tools, and other critical resources are designated by signs and labels.

What are the benefits of Visual Factory?

Visual factories have a number of advantages across a facility, including:


  • Productivity and output have increased.
  • In complex surroundings, it’s important to have clear, simple directions.
  • A more secure workplace (given the clear, intentional visual communication)
  • Profits that are higher (due to more efficient processes)
  • Throughout a job process, there are fewer errors and less guesswork.

What are the solutions of Visual Factory?

Visual controls like safety posters, identification boards, labelling, signages are essential elements of a visually appealing workplace. Employees get the information they need through properly-placed visual displays and contribute to the company’s success through clear communication.


Visualmitra can help you create clear, effective personalized visual communication. You’ll find the right equipment to start or improve your facility’s visual. Health and safety managers use these signs and labels all over the world to keep workers safe, orient them around a job-site, and alert them to crucial information.

Categories
5s Implementation Fascility Visual Management Visual Management

Why implementing Visual Management at your facility is crucial?

Information and communication are at the root of any firm, regardless of its industry. This information must be easy to access, update, and monitor due to the ever-changing nature of processes, costs, budgets, KPIs, output, and several other aspects. Using Visualmitra’s wide variety of visual management products, accomplishing this has never been so simple and straightforward.


Visual management helps to embed critical data into an organization’s culture by making it part of the fabric of the workplace. Because visual information is processed 60,000 times faster than word, we’ve created a selection of solutions that will help your staff remain on top of their responsibilities and meet their goals more quickly.


It shares the information in one glimpse

While documentation and digital files are great for keeping firm information, visual management is all about making the most critical information accessible in seconds and from just a few feet away. Magnetic overlays, whiteboards, floor markers, and shadow boards are all good examples of how to present information in a clear and timely manner.


Floor markings, for example, provide very visible directives and best practise recommendations, whilst whiteboards can communicate everything from root cause analysis and 5S audits to customer service tips and “You Said, We Did” accomplishments.


Monitor critical progress

You’ll notice that everything goes more smoothly if you use a visual management method. The tracking of processes, efficiency, and waste, for example, helps your team to improve the results even more through continuous improvement. Standards, targets, and deadlines are all well and good, but unless they’re always visible, your employees may lose sight of everyday performance and development


Tackling the problems

In the workplace, a variety of challenges might occur. Some are chronic, such as excessive waste generation and supply chain kinks, while others are one-of-a-kind and urgent, such as an accident that could have been easily averted.


Visual management software is essential for identifying problems and errors. They allow your teams to figure out what isn’t working, create a mechanism to fix it, and then communicate information properly to inspire operational excellence.


For example, shadow boards ensure that when equipment is not in use, it is always returned to its proper location, and the TIM WOODS system assists everyone in reducing the eight categories of waste that can influence a company’s productivity, sustainability, and profit margins.


Increase Employee Engagement

Employees become more engaged in their jobs when they have constant access to performance data. It is critical to feel linked to one’s work since it empowers the individual and clearly demonstrates how their role improves the department and the company as a whole.


Achieve operational excellence We’re a group of visual management and Lean management experts that believe that every company should have the resources it needs to optimize its daily operations. Contact us at 9324974251 or fill out our contact form to learn more about how we can help you be more efficient in your work.

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lean visual managment Visual Management Visual Management Boards visual management survey

Visual Management, a Way of Life

Dear people, we as human beings have changed a lot in the past 20 years. Due to advances in the technological field, most of the members of the existing generation have started using mobile phones between the years 2000 to 2010. The use of mobiles has increased with an exponential speed in the past decade and we have started experiencing an 8-year-old using a mobile phone and understanding most of its features.

Generations are becoming smart and they are always in the hunt for easy ways to get their work done real quick and efficiently. Sometimes the bigger problems have easier solutions and all it takes is just a little brainstorming about that problem. Such technological advances and brainstorming have developed a number of lean management tools such as visual management systems.

As a result of this technological development, we have started experiencing the “Magic of Visual Management” in our daily life. Now you must be thinking what is visual management? To understand the visual management systems one needs to think about the quantum of images and videos we see per day. The quantum will not be less than 500 images/videos per day. Our brain is also getting developed in such a way that we understand the visual things faster than any other communication media.

It is said that “Human brain processes visual memory 60,000 times faster than auditory memory”. Also, it is noted that “65% population is Visual Learners”. By virtue of this, it is obvious that understanding the message or a subject will be better if it is communicated by means of images, colors and minimal text. In our words, it is by means of “Visual Management”.

One needs to understand and accept that Visual Management is the most effective method of communication in every field, may it be educational, industrial or even business management. In the current scenario, every individual should give emphasis on how things can be made easy & effective by means of Effective Visual Management systems. For example, a visual management board can be used to display important data that would be accessible to all with minimal efforts.

Benefits of Visual management board

It is time-saving, faster problem-solving, improved work efficiency, better accountability, improved team performance, other visual management tools include making use of posters, charts, signs, etc. for lean management processes. Also, floor marking tapes are considered as one of the most important visual management tools.

5s visual management and Gemba walks are one of the favored lean visual management techniques by most of the leaders. 5s visual management and Gemba walks are focused on achieving cost cutbacks, waste termination, zero defects, safety enhancements, and accident reductions which makes them most preferred and vastly used visual management tools.

The implementation of lean visual management is a science. There are multiple parameters such as the selection of colors, images, text and also the media/material for display, size of the display and location of the display. We have experienced at many facilities that the visual management is not very effective although efforts have been taken to display posters, signs & whiteboards.

This is because the selection of the visual management parameters was not taken into consideration while designing the complete lean visual management arrangement at the facility. These visuals must be well designed for easy prediction of the display also it must be well engineered and standardized to make the visual more effective and efficient. Hence it is concluded that the science behind the various displays at the facility shall be followed to create positive and desired results from the effective visual management systems.

Visualmitra LLP is a Mumbai based company, offering visual management services to almost all sectors of the industries & businesses they are known for the successful execution of various projects pan India and even abroad. Their visual management experts visit the facility and prepare a detailed and comprehensive project report considering all the necessary parameters for effective management.

Many facilities including multinational companies, business units, commercial establishments, warehouses have availed their end to end services to make their facility safe & productive. All these companies have experienced “Change in Culture” at their facilities. Most of the developed countries have endorsed the positive results of effective lean visual management at the facility. Now it’s a time for India to understand and implement the system to make the facility visually compliant for better results in the individual area of operations. All the best!!

Categories
Benefits Fascility Visual Management Uncategorized Visual Management

5 Key Benefits of Effective Visual Management

Visual management is trending in manufacturing and logistics business units. But what is the reason behind this trend? Well, it is certainly due to the benefits that effective visual management provides. Here are 5 of them.

1. Provides Transparency

Management often complain that there is a lack of transparency in their teams. Due to readily available information today, transparency is now just a basic expectation of employees. By displaying work visually, it makes it easily accessible, but more importantly it sends a powerful message of openness and trust.

2. Fosters Psychological safety

When work is shared so openly, teams feel safer to be vulnerable with one another. As per Google’s 2015 research it is referred to as psychological safety and drives high performance amongst teams. It certainly helps team members to share their difficulties when they see that problems are not something to be ashamed of but something to be openly discussed and solved.

3. It Increases Accountability

An obvious outcome of transparency is an increased level of accountability. Of course, if you want collaborative accountability then team goals are the best way to go. For an example, a visual management board for sales department can act as a motivational force for all team members to act and own the outcome as they get to see their team target for the week and the shortfall.

4. Reduces Risk

Another least known or observed benefit of effective visual management is its ability to help with risk management. When all the work is visible and accessible easily, teams and leaders can try resolving issues early and there is reduced possibility of overlooking those errors or issues.

A work flow board is a most common method to understand the status or progress within teams and processes. With effective implementation of visual management projects, it is clear when tasks don’t move as expected, which may have implications to the fate of a project-a success or a failure.

5. Greater Team Alignment

In any organizations teams are bombarded with many complex priorities. With the help of visual management tool, it can get one or many teams on the same page in lesser time. Depending on the department and tasks, this could reflect as basic ‘Focus of the day’ or your major objectives for a given quarter. When this occurs, teams make decisions that contribute to accomplishing the same outcomes.

Management gurus strongly believe that effective visual management can provide key benefits for their teams. One must keep in mind that every team will have different needs, goals and contexts and therefore requires the right implementation.

Categories
Visual Management

When metrics matter – why you need visual management

Business Strategy

Why does sports fans glance at the scoreboard every so often when all the action is clearly on the field? The answer is obvious and very simple: the scoreboard generates and maintains interest. It provides unambiguous feedback about performance and answers important questions about the status of the game. Visual management shares real-time information and feedback about the status of your operations.

Visual management system is implemented mainly to ensure problem-solving and focuses on continuous improvement, with the specific aim of reducing response time and providing teams with the information they need to eliminate waste and other problems such as poor quality. It’s a fundamental part of empowerment and ownership. By providing teams with feedback, they are given the responsibility and accountability for their actions. It also leads to transparency in operation and even more efficient.

Helping lean principles ‘come to life’

One of the first principles of lean management is to directly observe the work as activities, connections and flows. When the work is visual and clear it becomes much easier for workers/ employees to directly observe and understand the progress. Visual management is therefore the most important and fundamental aspect of lean principle. Visual management technique actually helps the lean principles ‘come to life’.

Similar to an impressive and well-delivered speech that drives people to act, the skillful and judicious application of visual management techniques can move the business practices to a higher level of realization and efficiency. When visual management is implemented in the right way, it becomes easy to see and understand the workflow and its progress. It helps to:

  • identify in control and out-of-control situations
  • identify high levels of variability
  • identify trends which are positive or negative

A visual workplace is always easier to manage over time. With techniques that make performance more visible, less time is wasted in finding problems and performance-related issues. Visual management makes it easier to implement continuous improvement, the true objective of Lean principle.

In an ideal scenario, visual management should be integrated with the wider organization’s management system. Once visual displays have been installed and teams and employees at all levels have access to this visual key information, it should extend to updating performance boards/ informative boards on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

As per the situation and department, a daily or weekly review should take place. Systemic level reviews should be conducted for departmental boards at a time that suits the environment (i.e. weekly, fortnightly). More strategic initiatives are to be reviewed at the senior management level on a monthly basis, with key measures reviewed daily and weekly.

Visual management is considered to be a company-wide ‘nervous system’ that allows all employees to understand how they affect the operation’s overall performance. It allows people to understand how their actions and decisions affect or impact the overall strategic direction of the company. Visual management displays provide an open window to your manufacturing plant or factory performance, making the same unbiased information available to people at various hierarchies in an organization be it an owner, manager, operator, and even visitor.

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Benefits Fascility Visual Management Visual Management

The Magic of Visual Management At Workplace

Visual Management is one of the essential tools that we make use of at our work and home lives that you may not have even noticed. But once you understand what visual management exactly is all about, you’ll be seeing it everywhere!

Visual management is a tool that is used for lean management for making the work culture of that place better. A visual management technique makes use of effective visual displays to convey a certain message in an efficient and effective manner with minimum efforts. These visual displays can be are as follows:-

1] Data Displays like informative boards, performance white boards, safety calendars, MIS reports etc.
2] Guiding tools like floor marking tapes, stickers and area identification boards, signboards etc.
3] Shape cutouts for easy identification of the designated place of a tool,instrument or an equipment.
4] Flowcharts and layouts like work flow instructions, standard operating procedure (SOP), First In First Out (FIFO) layout etc.
Awareness posters like safety posters, Motivational posters, Posters for International quality management techniques, Business excellence posters etc.

Effects of Visual management at a workplace

Visual management exhibits crystal clear transparency and eliminates the distance between the higher management and production floor level of workers. Information is not hidden at any given point, and the whole organization is united on the same success goals. This forms unity and team spirit among all the the employees.

Many lean management techniques and principles rely on visual management that includes floor marking tapes to the large visual display boards and performance boards, sign boards etc. Visual management acts as the key sustaining force for many well-known lean techniques like 5S, standard work, total productive maintenance (TPM), Gemba walk and Kanban. It involves many visual indications that help to create a better work environment.

It suggests the use of different colors and labels to mark each item in the workplace differently. Labeling and marking gauges, oil levels and lube levels are all examples of visual controls that help the employees to easily detect abnormalities at a glance thereby promoting preventive maintenance and reducing the production down time.

Visual management is not just making data and metrics visible on a wall, it is a real-time visual display of the data that allows the team to take immediate actions to solve issues or support the production process. It thus promotes constant monitoring of the data and taking immediate actions accordingly.

The safety visuals help to make people aware of the possible hazards and situations within the work environment. It is very necessary to define the location of hazards as well as location of safe aids like first aid station, and location for personal protection equipment, Safety shower, eye wash station etc. Safety signs and safety instructions also plays an important role in accident prevention.

Benefits of visual management at a workplace

• Sharing all the Information with others to avoid any miscommunication
• Communicating the standards to attain uniformity throughout the processes.
• Implementing the standards to maintain smooth running of the processes.
• Bringing attention to irregularities in the processes for further action to be taken.
• Taking immediate actions against the irregularities when they happen to avoid such instances in future.
• Preventing such Irregularities from taking place for nonstop high quality output.

Fun facts about visual learners.

• 80% of people remember what they see or do rather than what the read or hear
• 65% of the world’s population are visual learners.
• 40% of human nerve fibers are linked to the retina.
• Humans are capable of getting the approximate understanding of a visual scene in less than 1/10th of a second.
• An average human eye can register up to 36,000 visual messages every hour.
• All the emotions and the visual information are processed in the same part of the human brain.
• Human brain processes visual information 60,000 times quicker than audio and written information.