Andon System
Andon is a Japanese term meaning “light” or “lamp”. In Production System, Andon refers to a tool used to inform and warn workers about problems that occur in the production process.
Andon is part of implementing Jidoka in the workplace. Jidoka is defined as “automation with human touch”. To implement Jidoka, a team must have the ability to find abnormal conditions on the production line and stop production as needed. Andon empowers operators to recognize problems and take the initiative to stop working without waiting for management to make a decision.
Andon works by the way the operator pulls a cable that will provide a signal that is sent to the supervisor to review the problem. Andon notifications are displayed using a color-coded light system that shows the current status at each workstation. After receiving the code, the supervisor performs genchi genbutsu by going to the area of concern and investigating the problem.
Whether used to inform about parts shortages, equipment malfunctions, or safety issues, Andon’s goal in lean manufacturing is to stop work so teams can come together, perform real-time root cause analysis, and deploy solutions quickly. After the issue is resolved and work continues, events are logged as part of a continuous repair system.