FACTORY
Building Participation
Through Shared Information
Michel Greif
Foreword by
Bruce Hamilton
United Electric Controls Company
Publisher's Message
Norman Bodek
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Productivity Press
Portland, Oregon
Originally published as L'Usine S' Affiche, copyright © 1989
by Les Editions d' Organisation.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or
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Discounts are available for multiple copies through the Sales Department
(800-394-6868). Address all other inquiries to:
Productivity, Inc.
P.O. Box 13390
Portland, OR 97213-0390
Acknowledgments xiii
United States of America
Telephone: (503) 235-0600 Foreword xv
Telefax: (503) 235-0909 Publisher's Message xvii
E-mail: info@productivityinc.com
Preface xxi
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1
Visual Communication
: !
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1
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During the 1970s and 1980s, when the West was seeking to
fathom the enigma of Japanese competitiveness, entrepreneurs
returning from a visit to Toyota reported that they had encoun-
tered an odd production control method. This rather archaic-
seeming process, known as kanban, used cards that traveled
between work stations (kanban means "card" in Japanese).
The western visitors smiled condescendingly. "These fel-
lows are tough to beat on prices, because they pay low salaries
and they never take vacations. Fortunately, when it comes to
managing production, they can't hold a candle to us. We can
computerize our factories. Their state of the art is the abacus."
Nearly ten years later, when I visited the NUMMI factory
in California, William Borton, at that time manager of the
stamping plant, began his presentation by saying, "Our produc-
tion control methods rely heavily on visual control. In the
stamping unit, we are managing production and inventory
without a computer."
There was a certain pride in his voice. Nevertheless, as a
resident of Silicon Valley, Borton did not disdain computers. He
I merely meant that his plant had adopted a particular mode of
I
: I organization in which the cry to computerize everything had
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132 THE VISUAL FACTORY
5
Visual Quality Control
Circuits and Part Numbers
I Month:
ICircuits I IList of circuits I
Out In
Plant = I I Circuits
I I Part Nos.
Our Work Area = I I Circuits
I I Part Nos.
The manager of a plant that manufactures home appliances
Accomplishments Weak Areas
was dismayed by the number of items strewn on the floor in the
work area. These small plastic parts had fallen off work tables or
dollies. Although still usable, these parts were ultimately des-
tined for the trash bin.
The manager was aware of the loss of money represented
Figure 4-15. Chart for Implementing a kanban system, J. Reydel plant,
Gondecourt. Introducing a kanban system is not enough. It is still neces-
by these items. She attempted every means to persuade em-
sary to ensure control of the system. This chart on the wall of the production ployees to change their ways - explanations to the employees'
unit is intended for that purpose. Control parameters (numbers of kanban committee, memoranda to department heads, and posters
routes, numbers of categories covered by kanbans, initial and final locations placed around the work area. Hoping to set a good example for
for parts) are entered on a regular basis. Weak points or problems to be
solved are also recorded. Favorable results are recorded to provide encour-
the employees, she even knelt on the floor to pick up fallen
agement. Everyone can observe how the kanban project is progressing parts, but her efforts were in vain. Her words seemed to float
throughout the plant. over their heads.
Driving home one evening, an idea came to her - an origi-
nal and audacious idea, but she thought it might work.
The next morning, the manager went to the bank and
asked for BOO quarters. When she arrived at the plant, she strode
into the work area and, like a farmer sowing a field, tossed the
coins onto the floor.
The employees were shocked, and they stopped their work.
The middle managers were baffled and wondered whether the
boss had lost her mind. The plant manager placidly walked to
133
172 THE VISUAL FACTORY
6
of numerous concrete points: the screwing machine that is too
far away, the set of tools that do not fit properly, the part that
Process Indicators
is difficult to install, and so on.
Since that point, more than 400 people, starting with top
management, have rolled up their sleeves to work in the pro-
duction units. Mr. Garsmeur, the operations manager at corpo-
rate headquarters, came to Sandouville and later sent me a
short note that said, "I'll be back. This is incredible." The head
of the research unit for automobile bodies is at Sandouville,
and he'll go on the line today. People from our foreign sales
department were here yesterday. When they saw what we've
done, they said, "We'll be coming to Sandouville."
It's important not to be afraid. Someone from the corpo-
rate offices was a bit dazed and anxious to know what would A text about management gave one manager the idea to
happen on the factory floor. '1 won't be able to keep up the display performance indicators in work areas. The book read:
pace!" The workers replied, "It's a good thing you can't keep "How can you expect your employees to be interested in what
up the pace, because if you. could it would mean that our jobs
they are doing if they are not informed of the results? Can you
are too easy."
imagine a football team discussing its games without knowing
This project - Returning to the Source - is readily accepted
by our employees because we made an effort to communicate the score?"
- first to explain the project and then to explain the results. The idea of announcing the score pleased the manager
Close attention is needed, however, because the whole project greatly. He summoned the head of his administrative depart-
is a long march. If we had proposed it in this form two years ment, and together they defined several interesting indicators.
ago, without any introduction, it would have been a fiasco. The necessary computations would not pose any problems: All
This project has rubbed some people the wrong way. of the data was already in the computer. Moreover, with the
We've been told that it is a little "Maoist." Yet the project has small amount of effort required to prepare a simple program, it
altered the level of awareness for many of us much more ef- would be possible to produce graphs directly from the printer.
fectively than lectures. We're no longer satisfied with just talk- Shortly thereafter, a display case adorned with a gilded frame
ing about things. appeared in the work area. Everyone acknowledged that it pro-
duced a favorable impression by enhancing the decor of a fairly
austere milieu. The manager, extremely proud, never passed up
an opportunity to show visitors this tangible evidence of his
new policy of openness: "The entire firm is being mobilized to
improve quality and efficiency," he explained. "Monitoring per-
formance is no longer reserved for management. Now it's
everybody's concern."
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7
Making Progress
Visible
221
II
261