Lean QuickStart Guide_ The Simplified Beginner’s Guide to Lean - PDF Room

5. Visibility
Visibility within an organization and within an organization’s supply chain is
much more than organizational transparency. Waste can only be eliminated if it
can be identified, and invisible waste will go on unchecked indefinitely. In short,
visibility leads to action. This philosophy permeates all levels of operation, from
the CEO’s desk all the way down to the mail room. In a practical, operational
implementation, facilities should be open and uncluttered. Software systems
should likewise be clean and uncluttered. Company correspondence and
communication channels should never be chaotic or garbled.
The free sharing of information between departments prevents crossed signals
and provides more opportunities for problems to be spotted. It also promotes
efficiency and reduces the waste of overproduction or double work. Cluttered
work environments can foster stress and confusion, as well as disrespect for the
workplace. It may sound like synergy mumbo jumbo, but creating a culture of
visibility among your workforce means a better work environment and a
foundational stepping-stone toward a culture of continuous improvement and
organizational longevity.
While each of the six Lean philosophies is integral to overall success,
visibility is unique in its enabling capacity. In a visible supply chain, waste is
easily identified and therefore eliminated. If operations are transparent to all
members of the workforce, operator and employee input can produce simplified
processes based on a total experience greater than the sum of its parts.
As a practice, visibility also ensures that the organization is maintaining a
broad view stance through careful matching of operations to long-term strategy
and by the exposure of tasks that do not add value or do not match corporate
goals. Additionally, staff alignment with goals and operational objectives leads
to faster responses to changing conditions without losing sight of set targets.
This enables a flexible response to changing market conditions and allows for a
smoother transition. The smoother the transition, the lower the chance of
creating waste during the change. A high degree of visibility means that the
organization will have more information and an earlier warning that change is
necessary. In situations in which staying the course means hitting an iceberg, an
early warning can mean successful navigation to safer waters.
Visibility also works with a broad view mentality in the supply chain, both