Optimizing Facility Navigation with Effective Wayfinding Systems
July 19, 2022Optimizing Facility Navigation with Effective Wayfinding Systems
July 19, 2022In the quest for a more efficient and productive workplace, integrating waste-reducing production tools such as Kanban, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), and 5S methodologies is essential. These tools lay a robust foundation for improving workstations, leading to substantial gains in both efficiency and quality. However, many businesses struggle to maintain these improvements over time.
The key to sustaining these gains lies in applying visual communication at workstations. Gwendolyn Galsworth pioneered the concept of the visual workplace, focusing on conveying essential task information "at a glance, without a single word." This approach involves first identifying information gaps at the workstation, then using visual tools to bridge these gaps effectively.
Identifying and Using Visual Tools
In manufacturing environments, precision in selecting and identifying supplies is essential. For instance, in a cable assembly process, workers may need different types of sheaves with varying materials, bushings, and tolerances. Visual tools—like color-coded labels or icons—help workers easily distinguish between components, reducing the chance of errors and speeding up identification.
Empowering Employees with Immediate Access to Information
A visual workplace empowers employees by giving them instant access to tools, supplies, and procedures at their point of use. Effective visual tools include:
- Shadow Boards: These boards outline tools and equipment for quick and easy recognition, minimizing search time.
- Labeling: Clear labels mark critical locations, guiding workers to follow the correct procedures, ensuring tasks are done accurately and consistently.
- Mobile Workstations: These portable stations can move between work areas, reducing downtime and enhancing task efficiency. Visual labels on these stations further aid workers in identifying supplies and organizing tools efficiently.
Applying 5S principles—Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain—enhances the effectiveness of these visual workstations, ensuring they remain clean, organized, and efficient over time.
Communicating Effectively Without Words
A visual workplace guarantees that accurate, up-to-date information is accessible to employees at the right time and place. This approach reduces work stoppages caused by questions and errors stemming from outdated or missing information.
Consider a gearbox manufacturing line: knowing if a gearbox has passed quality control is critical before transferring it for assembly. Visual cues, like green labels for approved items and yellow labels for pending ones, provide immediate status updates, eliminating uncertainty and ensuring smooth transitions.
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