It’s time for another LeanBlog Contest! Update: Deadline is May 18

Submit your Visual Management stories and get a chance to win a Black 8 Gig Apple iPod Nano, a $249 value, courtesy of our sponsor American LED-gible, Inc. (www.ledgible.com). I wish I could keep it, it’s an incredibly small, great looking device.

To enter, send an email (file attachments are OK especially if pictures are included) to the email address linked in the left hand column of the blog (email Mark) with the following (or bonus points for submitting an A3).

1) Brief Process Description (type of industry, etc.)

2) Problem Statement: What was the problem or type of waste encountered?

3) What visual management or visual control method did you use? How did this solve or prevent the problem? Why did you choose this solution?

4) What was the impact of visual management method?

The most creative example of visual management or the best written example will be named the winner and will receive the Nano. Entries don’t have to demonstrate a technology-related visual control, such as andon boards or electronic signs.

The book The Toyota Way defines visual control as one of Toyota’s key principles:

Use visual control so no problems are hidden.

Included in this principle, is the 5S Program – steps that are used to make all work spaces efficient and productive, help people share work stations, reduce time looking for needed tools and improve the work environment.

Entries are due by Friday, May 18 at 5 PM central daylight time. The winner and all entrants can remain confidential, but I reserve the right to publish any submitted story or picture here on the Lean Blog.

If you like, I will pre-load the Nano with all episodes of the LeanBlog Podcast, or I’ll leave it as brand-new.

Thanks again to our sponsor, American LED-gible, a manufacturer of LED and electronic signs, andon lights, timers, counters, and other Visual Management products.

If you have any questions about the contest, email me using the left hand column link or leave a comment on this post.

I’ve been having some email trouble with the leanblog.org domain, so if you entered previously, please email me again using the link in the left hand column of this page.

About LeanBlog.org: Mark Graban is a consultant, author, and speaker in the “lean healthcare” methodology, focused on improving quality and patient safety, improving access, reducing costs, and fully engaging healthcare professionals. He is also the Chief Improvement Officer for KaiNexus.

Tagged as: Contest, Visual Management