Visual Controls make it obvious if something is trending south. They’re a part of Toyota’s 14 Principles and, thus, Six Sigma and LEAN Manufacturing. They increase Goal Presence and increase focus on achieving results (assuming you’re using Good Metrics). Wherever possible, it’s advisable to utilize visual controls. Prefer systems that enable them.
Example Visual Controls
- Burn down (or “burn up”) charts
- Dashboards with clear results and clear inputs to what’s driving them
- Color coding things
- Andon Lights - a clear un-missable place to raise alarms for flagging problems
- Kanban
- Gantt Charts
- Daily Post It & displaying the 3 Goals a Day
- Quality standards - a “good example” to reference
Source
- The Toyota Way
- Experience
Related
- in body above