Visual Boards & Metrics

Visual Management Boards Driving Communication and Improvement at EMF

Over the past year, visual management boards have been appearing across various departments at EMF, marking a significant shift in how teams communicate and manage their workflows. These boards have been implemented in a wide range of areas, including Applications Engineering, Quality Assurance, CNC Machining, Purchasing, Project Management, Inspection, and Fabrication. The introduction of these boards has quickly transformed them into essential communication tools that facilitate alignment and focus among team members.

Each visual management board serves as a powerful tool that provides a clear and concise snapshot of performance metrics. They highlight what’s going well within each department, pinpoint areas that require immediate attention, identify where problems exist, and clarify where additional leadership support is needed. This transparency is crucial; it enables not just those directly involved in a specific area to stay informed, but also allows anyone within the organization to walk up to a board and immediately grasp the current status of that team’s performance. This ease of access to information fosters a culture of openness and collaboration, encouraging proactive problem-solving and engagement across all levels.

The CNC Machining department has been a trailblazer in this initiative, leading the way by introducing a highly effective visual scheduling board. This innovative approach has inspired similar tools in other departments, such as Project Management and Applications Engineering, showcasing the ripple effect of successful practices within the organization. The visual scheduling board not only enhances operational efficiency but also helps in prioritizing tasks, managing resources, and ensuring timely delivery of projects.

Inspection was the pioneering department to incorporate metrics on their visual management board, which has significantly empowered the team to communicate using data-driven insights. This capability allows them to measure progress more accurately and make informed decisions based on real-time data. As a result, nearly every visual management board at EMF now tracks critical indicators such as productivity, quality, first pass yield, and on-time delivery in relation to our internal service level agreements. This data-centric approach not only drives accountability but also promotes a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.

At EMF, we understand that the journey of improvement is ongoing. We are committed to continually building and evolving our visual management tools to meet the changing needs of our teams and the organization as a whole. The spirit of creativity and a commitment to continuous improvement are deeply embedded in our culture, and these visual management boards are a testament to that ethos. They not only serve as a means of communication but also as a catalyst for innovation, collaboration, and enhanced operational performance, ensuring that EMF remains at the forefront of industry excellence.