Visual management is an essential part of Lean , where all information on the shop floor is made visually and instantly accessible. The goal is to be able to see at a glance the current status of processes, objectives and performance. This increases transparency and makes deviations immediately visible.

The core of visual management is creating an environment in which:

• The standard is clear: What is the standard or expected situation?
• The deviation directly visible: What is the current situation and does it differ from the norm?
• Action can be taken immediately: What needs to be done to restore the standard?

A good example of visual management is a Kanban board, which visualizes the progress of tasks (To Do, In Progress, Done).

Other examples include colored lines on the floor of a factory hall that indicate walking routes, tool shadow boards that show if something is missing, and performance boards that display a team's daily goals and results.

Visual management ensures that everyone in the organization, from the mechanic on the shop floor to the manager, has a shared understanding of the situation. This facilitates communication, accelerates problem solving and contributes to a culture of continuous improvement.

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