Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Pick” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide practical knowledge and advice on timely and important supply chain and logistics topics. In this post, Joel Holt, Corporate Director of Engineering at Kenco Group, discusses the value and benefits of visual control in the warehouse and how to successfully implement it.
Visual control is one of the most popular concepts making its way into the warehousing industry today, but companies considering it need to remember this powerful concept isn’t a cure-all. Like tiered accountability or any other lean tool, it needs to be part of a system to work properly. This means a little uphill research and examination of the way your team is implementing lean tools.
A warehouse that demonstrates “system thinking” utilizes a strong use of tools and techniques for business improvement and have developed effective systems to create continuity and consistency of tools application throughout the business entity.
It might be uncomfortable, and you might even experience pushback from certain areas of the company — “new” can be an intimidating word, after all. If you run up against a proverbial wall, keep in mind: even if visual management is implemented perfectly, if the support to sustain it isn’t in place, it will eventually fade. Managers will look up one day to discover the “way we’ve always done things” has settled right back into place.
Innovate your workflows the right way, with planning and dedication to your end-goals, and you’ll find this powerful concept will transform the way you do business within your warehouse walls.
