Bad Visual Controls at Baggage Claim

This is at the Terminal B baggage claim at DFW airport. There are three lights. And two signs. You tell me, which sign corresponds with which light? The baggage claim was already going, when the light on the right went off. It wasn't the “E-Stop Indicator” because the bags kept coming. Maybe it's a “more bags are coming light”, but it's still not obvious. The lesson learned for visual controls in a factory is that they must be obvious to an outsider. Be careful if the person putting the visual controls together knows an area too well. Otherwise, they will make assumptions that a new person won't necessarily be able to figure out. In this case, it just caused a chuckle to me, but it could be more serious in a factory.

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Mark Graban

Mark Graban is an internationally-recognized consultant, author, and professional speaker who has worked in healthcare, manufacturing, and startups. His latest book is Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More. He is author of the Shingo Award-winning books Lean Hospitals and Healthcare Kaizen, as well as The Executive Guide to Healthcare Kaizen. He also published the anthology Practicing Lean that benefits the Louise H. Batz Patient Safety Foundation, where Mark is a board member. Mark is also a Senior Advisor to the technology company KaiNexus.