Andon Systems

Andon is the Japanese term for a signaling system within a production process or plant. The Japanese use Andon systems as a communication tool to communicate the status of a production line or process to all production employees on the production floor. Andon systems are usually found in forms of display boards in visible locations around the production plant. Andon boards can vary, some are illuminated, have led displays, or are flat screens presenting production data.

Andon boards can be used to communicate the following:

-Production line status: producing, stopped, or idled
-Different times: current time, downtime, running period time
-Production volumes, WIP and products produced
-Different production KPI's or goals.

The Japanese auto manufacturers and other organizations which have implemented Andon systems have found them to be very useful and a contributing factor to their company cultures, efficiencies and lean manufacturing initiatives.

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