A visual workplace is one in which visual communication methods, such as labels and signs, are used to communicated needed information at the point of need. The visual workplace concept works hand-in-hand with lean manufacturing techniques to boost productivity, reduce waste, improve safety, cut costs and deliver improved customer satisfaction and greater profits.

Today Graphic Products introduced their latest web site suite. It is a group of web sites about visual communication, lean manufacturing techniques, and the value of proper labeling and signs. This visual communication suite has four web sites.

Label Printer (www.labelprinter.com) is the base, visual communication web site. It features "Five Steps To A Visual Workplace" and shows why the DuraLabel PRO is the label and sign printer industry chooses to provide visual communication. This site also hosts our new Lean Manufacturing blog with news and commentary on kaizen, kanban, 5s, visual communication, and TPM related topics.

Kaizen (kaizen.labelprinter.com) features information about kaizen and how labels and signs are used to support kaizen. This site answers questions such as: What is kaizen? What are the benefits of kaizen? Have other companies been successful in implementing kaizen?

Kanban (kanban.labelprinter.com) describes kanban and shows how a kanban system can be put in place. It illustrates the importance of labels and signs for the successful implementation of kanban.

5S (5s.labelprinter.com) shows the five steps of 5S, describing each step and what the benefits are. Using a label printer such as the DuraLabel PRO to establish a visual workplace is an important component of 5S. Since 5S involves getting the workplace cleaned up and organized, using visual communication (labels and signs) is key to establishing and maintaining an organized workplace.

The kaizen, kanban and 5S web sites include a short quiz you can use to test your knowledge of these lean methods.

Labels: 5S, kanban, Lean Manufacturing, visual workplace

posted by Steve Hudgik - 2:00:00 PM - - Permanent Link to This Article

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