A Human-Centered Assessment of Andon Boards in an Automotive Manufacturing Environment

This study examines the design and usability of Andon Boards, a visualization tool commonly used in manufacturing plants to present the status of production stations and lines. A real case study was conducted in a modem automotive manufacturing plant where Andon Boards are used in various locations to assist with awareness of production. Employees were interviewed to gather feedback on the current design and identify areas for improvement. A thematic analysis was conducted to recognize opportunities to improve usability and reduce downtime for increased productivity. Participants indicated a desire for improved display design (e.g., simplifying displayed information, increasing the font size), but also changes to board locations and content (e.g., adding displays and limiting the number of stations displayed), and incorporating other visual and auditory cues for faster recognition of relevant information. Future studies should consider how improved Andon Board usability affects productivity and profitability, which may increase the likelihood that industries invest in resources to study and improvement Andon Boards.