What is Visual Management
Visual Management (a.k.a. Visual Controls, Visual Factory, Visual Thinking or Visual Workplace) are approaches and techniques that enable someone to visually determine the status of a process at a glance.
Why Visual Management
General advantages
- Provides feedback on processes
- Reduces variability of processes and their outputs
- Help employees know what to do, when and how to do it
Reduces waste types
When to use Visual Management
Essential conditions
None
N/A
Non-essential conditions
How to implement and use Visual Management
Implementation
General comments:
- Use visual tools that provide feedback on processes (e.g. warning lights, tool boards)
- Tools must be self-explanatory
Verify the implementation by checking if you can easily identify:
- Downtime issues
- Scrap issues
- Changeover problems
- Line balancing problems
- Excessive inventory levels
- Excessive tools & supplies
Use
General comments:
- Transparency of process performance is key. Both in enabling continuous improvement and in gaining trust.
- Never sweep a problem under the carpet, not even with customers in-house.
Where to find it
IASSC Body of Knowledge:
Lean: 30
Yellow ➔ Apply
Green ➔ Create
Black ➔ Create
Lean Six Sigma: 5.1
Yellow ➔ Apply
Green ➔ Apply
Black ➔ Apply
About the Author
Floris Lap is an IASSC-certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and founder of Procestimal. He empowers organizations to maximize value and reduce waste through practical Lean Six Sigma solutions—contributing to a more sustainable world where businesses thrive with minimal resources.
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Last updated on:
16-06-2026