An examination of visual management on finnish construction sites

Abstract

Visual Management (VM), which is one of the founding blocks of the Toyota Production System, is the managerial strategy of integrating information and sensory aids into work settings for increased self-management. This paper presents the preliminary findings of a collaborative research conducted between Finland and the UK, as part of an effort to introduce the dissemination of Visual Management in the Finnish construction industry. How the Visual Management concept is realised on Finnish construction sites is the main research question of the paper. The examination of the current Visual Management conditions on typical Finnish construction sites was conducted through multiple case studies carried out on five different construction sites in the country. The findings were presented by case descriptions. The main finding is that the Visual Management strategy is currently at an initial level and based on individual initiatives, not systematic company approaches. The discussion of the Visual Management conditions in Finland, some recommendations for the implementation of Visual Management in the country, and the future Visual Management research efforts were also presented.