Visual Management that Doesn't Really Satisfy

By Jon Miller | Post Date: March 10, 2008 11:03 AM | Comments: 4

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to visit Home Depot in an attempt to answer the question, "How many jet-lagged consultants does it take to screw in a light bulb?" Light bulbs successfully obtained, the candy at the checkout counter caught my eye, but not because of hunger. Here's a photo I snapped.

This example of visual management, unlike the candy bar, does not satisfy. We can clearly see identification of the fixed location and the fixed item, but there is some doubt as to the fixed quantity that belongs there. It's not hard to guess "one box" but it didn't appear to be specified visually.

Furthermore, and most importantly, they were out of product! Unless that is the normal condition for candy at Home Depot, it should be unambiguously identified as an abnormality. No one wants to see a badly jet-lagged and hungry consultant clawing pitifully at the photo of the candy bar on an empty shelf.

Unlike a line stoppage on a high volume production line or an alert to a nurse at a hospital, it's not a big deal that they were momentarily out of stock of a particular candy bar. I can totally understand that the floor supervisor wasn't writing up a corrective action A3 for this abnormal condition. Yet as an attempt at visual management, it was sweet but not satisfying.

How many consultants does it take to screw in a light bulb? Well, it depends.

Go green and abandon the light bulb altogether.

Poster: Anna | Post Date: March 10, 2008 12:32 PM

Hi Jon
Thanks for the everyday example of unclear quantity visibility. But it was the mention of light bulbs that roused my Kaizen. I guess you have in the States the same light bulb dilemma we have in the UK. When we go to the Supermarket there must now be over 100 different varieties. This includes 4 different fitting types, 6 different shapes, 6 alternative sizes, 4 wattages, Opaque, Clear and Soft and now following the drive to use less energy the choice of energy saving ones too. I can almost guarrantee to come home with the wrong type. When the bulb in the bathroom fails in the middle of the night I never have the right replacement type in stock.
My Kaizen idea is a light bulb check list with location quantity etc and a picture of the current bulb in use. When I am then searching the Supermarket Ales (yes there is a whole Aisle dedicated to light bulbs) I can look for a match. I did think about taking the old bulb back with me for the same purpose but I'd have to carry it and with no packing around it might break in my pocket. So the question should be "how many consultants does it take to select the right light bulb" in the first place.
Best Regards
Chris

Poster: Chris Nicholls | Post Date: March 11, 2008 1:59 AM

I can testify to Jon's facility with the old-school kerosene lamp.

Poster: David Moles | Post Date: March 11, 2008 3:30 AM

Ann - Glow worms in a jar work fairly well as a green lighting technology. Unfortunately, the supply chain for glow worms is not so well developed.

Chris - Hopefully LED lighting technology will soon put an end to the light bulb question once and for all.

Dave - How did cartoonists draw "idea" before we had light bulbs? Kerosene lamp floating over one's head? Seems dangerous.

Poster: Jon Miller | Post Date: March 11, 2008 6:59 AM

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