Feature ‘Ask the Expert’


Improving Productivity: Taking Lean into Visual


This month our Brady Expert Liz Gallagher looks at the benefits of implementing Visual Workplace techniques in the workplace to save time, money and boost productivity


visual workplace is a work environment that is self-order- ing, self-explaining, self-regu- lating and self-improving – where what is supposed to happen does happen, on time, every time, because of visual solutions.” From “Visual Workplace, Visual Thinking” by Dr. Gwendolyn Galsworth.


“ A Sharing information


I know not everyone enjoys training courses, but as someone who both trains and is trained, the opportunity to swap, share and take on-board new information is something I really look forward to. If there is something I can then pass on to enable companies to operate more efficiently, then it is even more satisfying. At Brady, we have recently been spending a lot of time looking at Visual Workplace imple- mentation, something that I have men- tioned before and that may be familiar


A place for everything...


‘A simple one-point guide provides a fast, visual reference to streamline


production...All visual materials need to be posted at the point of need and should include who to go to for additional support’


follow-up orders from one of our printer ranges that I knew would be a hardworking addition to this (name- less!) company’s production line. When I called in to see the warehouse manager it transpired my original con- tact had left and his replacement was unaware of the scope and capability of the printers he had inherited. For me it was a tragedy to see all this potential laying idle - after all why have equip- ment and not use it - so we arranged a short training session. The success of the session lay in training the actual team members who needed to use the printers, in this case to produce serial rating plates for white goods on the production line.


One-point guide


Our machines are very intuitive in their usage but it is still necessary to know when to re-order materials to


10


The replacement instructions for inks are clear to all (left)


avoid downtime while awaiting deliv- ery and also which type of material to use for which product. A simple one- point guide provides a fast, visual ref- erence to streamline production. By training employees on current materi- als and printers it also gives them the ability to quickly update information as required to keep colleagues informed. All visual materials need to be posted at the point of need and should include who to go to for addi- tional support. It may sound obvious but you wouldn’t believe what a dif- ference in efficiency having these guides positioned correctly can make, and this applies equally to small items such as printers to large machinery, safety logistics and warehousing to name but a few.


Interested in learning more? Visit


www.enbradyeurope.com/visual workplace


The right visual in the right place


One of the most important considera- tions with ‘Visual’ is something known as the ‘Speed of Process’. What this means basically is how fast and in what presenta- tion form is the information needed? For example, in the midst of a fire, people need short, unambivalent instructions, ditto if a particular tool for a leak is being sought. On the other hand, a process visu- al can be presented in a different way.


Brady E: asktheexpert@bradycorp.com www.bradyeurope.com


Enter 215 JULY 2012 Process & Control


to you as a part of standard Lean Manufacturing Process. The whole key to ‘Visual’ is to eliminate lack of knowledge, for example ‘Where is?’ ‘How Does?’ ‘When Can?’ type scenar- ios. Relating this directly to a case I have personal knowledge of, I was puzzled why we hadn’t had any


Unequivocal and international visual instruction at its clearest!


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