Visual factory: Basic principles and the 'zoning' approach

This research proposes a method of organizing an effective information-transfer system design in a plant-working environment. The method is based on a combination of the visual characteristics principles used in the development of safety systems, visual factory design and advanced training practices. With the visual factory principle, the production area is separated into three task zones 'A', 'B' and 'C'. Zone 'A' represents the 'peripheral' or 'reference' zone, zone 'B' represents the 'access' or 'link' zone and zone 'C' represents the 'main activity' or 'production' zone. When implanted, this system will reduce the probability of worker mistakes and, in combination with CAD, it will provide a tool for effectively managing change in an environment of growing demand for information exchange, revision and update. Thus, the system provides a positive thrust in business continuous improvement. Therefore, the method proposed can serve as an interfunctional tool facilitating the job of the floor workers as well as the plant's middle and top managers.