Top 4 Ways to Use Whiteboards for Continuous Improvement
No matter what industry you work in, it’s likely that competition is stiffer than ever.
As such, rising to become a market leader requires a monumental effort…as does staying on top once you get there.
In addition, there are no short cuts. There’s no single big, sweeping, quick change you can make to transform your company into an overnight success. We all know that success requires years of constant, incremental improvement over all facets of your business.
That’s why continuous improvement efforts, such as LEAN initiatives and Kaizen events, have become so important.
If your company is executing a continuous improvement initiative, or planning to launch one, don’t forget to add whiteboards to your LEAN and Kaizen toolbox.
Why? Whiteboards are excellent for the exchange of ideas, as well as providing vital “at-a-glance” information to key members of your team.
Following are four examples of how whiteboards can be effectively used for your continuous improvement processes:
How to Use Whiteboards for LEAN Initiatives and Kaizen Events
1. A3 Project Board
An A3 project board is used to track current projects, future projects, and next steps. This board is particularly handy because it allows everyone involved in a project a chance to quickly check status without opening a spreadsheet or searching for an email containing a report. Also, putting the information out in the open helps keep it “top of mind.”
2. LEAN Kanban
A LEAN Kanban board serves as a visualization tool of work and workflow. It’s typically comprised of sticky notes or index cards affixed to a whiteboard to communicate status, progress, and issues.
3. Visual Measures Board
A visual measures board is used to track key performance indicators (also known as KPI’s). In other words, this board helps your group evaluate the outcomes of your continuous improvement projects and initiatives.
4. Accountability Board
An accountability board works in tandem with the visual measures board. Specifically, the tracked outcomes can be transformed into action items that are placed on the accountability board. These action items can be used to reverse a negative trend, as well as maintain accelerate a positive one.
The usefulness of whiteboards doesn’t stop there. It’s always good practice to keep a whiteboard on hand during meetings for brainstorming ideas and formulating plans.
We hope you find these continuous improvement ideas helpful. And, for a full-featured, high-quality whiteboard, look to Stand Up Desk Store’s line of whiteboards, and glass boards.
