Gemba a weblog about better ways to makes things better

Lesson in Visual Management from GOL

Last week I had a chance to fly GOL, the Brazilian low cost airlines billing itself as the "intelligent airlines" and an airline having one of the most modern fleets. They are in fact a smart airlines and it was a pleasant flight. Once the Brazilian landscape fell away below, I was left looking for reading material in the seat pocket in front of me and unexpectedly found a lesson in Visual Management or sorts.

one.PNG
Here's a cutaway pocket where the in-flight magazine would normally be. What percentage of the time does the stewardess ask you to review the safety information card on take off? One hundred per cent. What percentage of the time do I review it? Maybe 3%. GOL makes theirs hard to ignore, so I pulled it out.

two.PNG
There was a lot of information on this two-sided card, no more than 10 inches by 10 inches.

three.PNG
Here it is clearly explained what to do and what not to do in an emergency.

three.PNG
But why no high heels? This part was not so clear to me.

five.PNG
And this one instructs you in case of a water landing to leave your high heels, your shoes, fasten your seat belts, no smoking (is this not a non-smoking flight anyway?) and further more not to jump into the roaring flame below (far right). Certainly sounds advice, but roaring flames?

six.PNG
Here are useful instructions for exiting the airplane. This exit looks more orderly and efficient than many exits I've experienced from safely landed airplanes.

seven.PNG
And the card instructs in the case of a landing on a wavy green surface (presumably the green hills, jungles or fields) to fasten seat belts and leave behind one's briefcase, shoes, lit cigarettes, and high heel. And certainly don't jump into the roaring flames or on the sharp rocks.

eight.PNG
The lesson in Visual Management here is that instructions should be unambiguous and clear. As much as possible both "what" and "why" should be obvious so there is no room for questioning in the critical moment. Instructions as visual management tools should make the abnormal condition very clear.

In the case of the high heels and shoes it is not clear if merely possessing them is bad or if wearing them is bad. Common sense, you might say but what about sandals, or boots? Briefcases are not good, but what about purses? If space allows, it would be better to depict what action with these items is prohibited. The message with the lit cigarette is very clear. Take your cigarettes with you but don't light them until you are well past the roaring flames.

By Jon Miller - September 21, 2006 7:30 AM

Comments

I imagine inflatable escape slides and high heels don't mix, let alone the risk of people falling on top of one another. I'm less afraid of boots, slightly blunter.

Posted by: Andy - September 21, 2006 3:42 PM

However I wouldn't want to have taken my shoes off if other people are still wearing boots!

Posted by: Paul - September 22, 2006 10:06 AM

Dear Jon,
I think that they should use a transparent material for the pocket so that visualizaton of the safety information card will be improved.

Posted by: Tetsu Sugiura - September 26, 2006 1:51 AM

High heels (and also probably leather shoes??) are liable to damage / puncture an inflatable escape slide -which is used is a life raft if the aircraft goes down in water. Therefore airlines advice passengers to remove them in an emergency landing. The other reason is due to the angle of decent in an escape slide - it moves people very fast, upon hitting the ground one is expected to get up and run away fast. Wearing heels, shoes and carrying hand luggage can cause delay and injury.

Posted by: Hubert Thomas - August 6, 2007 9:37 PM

Post a Comment

Comments are moderated to filter spam and inappropriate content. There may be a delay before your comment is published.




Recent Artices
Virtual Facory Tours on YouTube

Keep your chin up, global manufacturing! Even though new factory orders dipped recently to record more>>

By Jon Miller - January 4, 2009 4:53 PM0 comments>>
Ask Gemba

We want to make it easier to start conversations and find answers here at more>>

By Jon Miller - January 3, 2009 1:57 PM0 comments>>
5 Ways to Boost Kaizen Consciousness in 2009

Improved quality, reduced cost, better teamwork, faster response to customer needs - there are as more>>

By Jon Miller - January 1, 2009 11:19 PM1 comments>>
HP Printer Pokayoke Example

This is a new HP C7250 printer we purchased a few weeks ago. It's quite more>>

By Jon Miller - December 30, 2008 12:53 AM0 comments>>
Yaruki: The Will to Win Even in Tough Times

RC Bhargava, the Chairman, Maruti Suzuki India recounts the story of Maruti Suzuki and how more>>

By Jon Miller - December 28, 2008 7:53 PM3 comments>>
9 Surprises for U.S. Manufacturing in 2009

1. Will you shut up about kaizen, Tom? Newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture more>>

By Jon Miller - December 24, 2008 4:05 PM4 comments>>
Let's Do Kaizen, Not Kaizan

It doesn't really matter how you pronounce the Japanese word for continuous improvement through more>>

By Jon Miller - December 23, 2008 12:20 PM0 comments>>
Answers to Lean Thinking Crossword Puzzle #1

Spoiler alert! The answers to Lean Thinking Crossword Puzzle #1 are below. Here are the more>>

By Jon Miller - December 20, 2008 2:20 AM0 comments>>
Lean Thinking Crossword Puzzle #1

Here is a quiz we used as a review of lean knowledge for the team more>>

By Jon Miller - December 19, 2008 3:24 AM0 comments>>
Field Report from Gemba Tour #62, Part 4

Today was day-long visit to a company who is 13 years on their lean more>>

By Jon Miller - December 18, 2008 8:16 AM1 comments>>
Field Report from Gemba Tour #62, Part 3

Today wast the Toyota plant tour day of our Japan Kaikaku Experience #62. I noticed more>>

By Jon Miller - December 17, 2008 5:21 AM0 comments>>
Field Report from Gemba Tour #62, Part 2

I have seen the future of logistics, and it is green. Today we visited more>>

By Jon Miller - December 16, 2008 7:08 AM3 comments>>
Field Report from Gemba Tour #62, Part 1

The last few weeks haven't been very productive ones for writing blog articles due more>>

By Jon Miller - December 15, 2008 5:34 AM2 comments>>
If Blame Helped Solve Problems...

...the interview with Newt Gingrich on Fox News would be a brilliant way to get more>>

By Jon Miller - December 5, 2008 11:07 PM8 comments>>
$34,000,000,000

Sigh. Chrysler wants $7 billion. They asked Congress for this taxpayer money in a 14-page more>>

By Jon Miller - December 2, 2008 8:11 PM5 comments>>
PDCA is About Not Telling Lies

This circle doesn't lie. In fact one could say that used properly, it is more>>

By Jon Miller - December 1, 2008 5:39 AM6 comments>>
With Competitors Like These, Who Needs a Winning Business Strategy?

Larry, Curly and Moe go to Washington image credit: Wall Street Journal As we more>>

By Jon Miller - November 27, 2008 10:00 PM4 comments>>
It's a Lousy Time to Implement Lean

Author, teacher and our friend Bob Emiliani from the Center for Lean Business Management pointed more>>

By Jon Miller - November 25, 2008 8:08 PM4 comments>>
The Big 3 Must Follow in Toyota's Footsteps to Survive

The Big 3 automotive companies must follow in Toyota's footsteps to survive. There are three more>>

By Jon Miller - November 23, 2008 7:34 PM6 comments>>
Ambiguous Visual Controls: This Way is Up

This makes it three for three on scoring photos of ambiguous visual controls during visits more>>

By Jon Miller - November 12, 2008 2:51 PM3 comments>>
Blogroll
Improve With me
Lean Companies
Agile Management Blog
Curious Cat
DailyKaizen
Evolving Excellence
Fashion-Incubator
Got Boondoggle?
Lean Blog
Lean Insider
Lean Builder
Lean Reflections
Lean Six Sigma Academy
Learn Sigma
Productivity Cafe
Reforming Project Management
Shmula
The Lean Thinker
Thinking for a Change
TPM Log