Visual control uses visual indicators to provide instant feedback on a process, making it easy for anyone to understand what is happening. It can include lights, status messages, and central control panels. Without visual control, operators may not have an overview of the entire system, making it difficult for others to take over. Status cards can be useful for visual checking.
Visual control is the use of visual information indicators to provide instant feedback on a process so that anyone in the environment can understand what is happening. This technique is popular in a variety of settings, and in some cases is required for security reasons. For example, emergency valves are clearly labeled, a form of visual control, to allow anyone to operate them and make sure bystanders are aware that valves can vent suddenly and unexpectedly.
There are many forms of visual inspection. It may simply consist of posting instructions for use near an equipment. It can also include lights and status messages. Electronic systems commonly have a central control panel that provides information about what is happening in the system and where. It can generate error messages, highlight parts of the system that are working, and so on. Examples can be seen in air traffic control rooms where radar monitors incoming aircraft and are marked with notes providing additional information.
When visual control is not present, only the operator knows what is happening and may not have an overview of the entire system. Operators may know what is happening with the equipment they are responsible for without knowing anything about the rest of the facility. For example, they may not be aware of slowdowns and crashes. If the operator were disabled, another person would not be able to take over instantly without visual control, since that person would not understand what was happening in the process.
Status cards can be useful for visual checking. These are placed in a central location for supervisors and passers-by to see what is happening in a facility. They can be electronic or can be updated manually. For example, a printer might have a job board that shows what is assigned to each press and provides information about the status of each job. He can move tags to the job board, and each tag corresponds to a job ticket that can be accessed for more information.
To contrast visual control with other systems, it might be helpful to think of walking into a kitchen where someone has stopped while a cake is being prepared. A baker has left out the recipe and all the tools and ingredients. It’s easy to determine that the only remaining step is to mix wet and dry ingredients and pop the cake into the oven. Another baker didn’t leave out the recipe or other supplies. The baker who takes over is expected to guess what kind of cake has been made and what needs to be added to the batter before it can be baked.
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