Article: Visual management in the era of Industry 4.0: perceived advantages and disadvantages of digital boards Journal: International Journal of Advanced Operations Management (IJAOM) 2023 Vol.15 No.1 pp.24 - 41 Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to investigate digitalised visual management, with a focus on the relative advantages and disadvantages of digital and analogue boards in manufacturing. The case study of this paper was conducted at two different business units within the same large multinational company, Sandvik. Data was collected through 15 unstructured and semi-structured interviews with managers and machine operators. More advantages than disadvantages with digital boards were found. Only two disadvantages are absolute, while the other disadvantages can be counteracted to some extent. Currently there is a shortage of studies exploring advantages and disadvantages of digital boards as visualisation tools. This paper is based on a single case study focusing on stoppage causes, and thus cannot be fully generalised to all manufacturing companies or all contexts. The actual performance effects of analogue and digital boards were not examined in this paper. The findings are applicable for managers considering investing in digital boards in manufacturing, to be used for continuous improvement but also for other production-related applications. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Visual management in the era of Industry 4.0: perceived advantages and disadvantages of digital boards

Authors: Robin von Haartman; Linda Samen; Lisa Bengtsson; Stefan Eriksson

Addresses: Department of Industrial Management, Industrial Design and Mechanical Engineering, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen, 80176 Gävle, Sweden ' Department of Industrial Management, Industrial Design and Mechanical Engineering, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen, 80176 Gävle, Sweden ' Department of Industrial Management, Industrial Design and Mechanical Engineering, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen, 80176 Gävle, Sweden ' Department of Industrial Management, Industrial Design and Mechanical Engineering, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen, 80176 Gävle, Sweden

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to investigate digitalised visual management, with a focus on the relative advantages and disadvantages of digital and analogue boards in manufacturing. The case study of this paper was conducted at two different business units within the same large multinational company, Sandvik. Data was collected through 15 unstructured and semi-structured interviews with managers and machine operators. More advantages than disadvantages with digital boards were found. Only two disadvantages are absolute, while the other disadvantages can be counteracted to some extent. Currently there is a shortage of studies exploring advantages and disadvantages of digital boards as visualisation tools. This paper is based on a single case study focusing on stoppage causes, and thus cannot be fully generalised to all manufacturing companies or all contexts. The actual performance effects of analogue and digital boards were not examined in this paper. The findings are applicable for managers considering investing in digital boards in manufacturing, to be used for continuous improvement but also for other production-related applications.

Keywords: continuous improvement; visual management; Kaizen; improvement boards; Industry 4.0; lean manufacturing; digital lean; display boards in production.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAOM.2023.129524

International Journal of Advanced Operations Management, 2023 Vol.15 No.1, pp.24 - 41

Received: 20 Dec 2021
Accepted: 26 Sep 2022
Published online: 13 Mar 2023 *

Title: Visual management in the era of Industry 4.0: perceived advantages and disadvantages of digital boards

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