Andon

Andon is a visual management tool used to show the status of operations in an area at a glance and to signal abnormalities. It can display production status, abnormalities such as machine downtime or quality problems, required actions such as changeovers, and planned versus actual output. Typical implementations use an overhead signboard with lights for workstations or machines, activated by machine sensors or by operators pulling a cord or pressing a button.

Source checked1/1 values · 2026-10-25Tool

Specification

1 source

Kind	tool

Study notes

A typical andon is an overhead signboard with rows of numbers corresponding to workstations or machines.
A number lights when a machine sensor detects a problem or when an operator pulls a cord or pushes a button.
The illuminated number summons a quick response from the team leader.
Colored lighting on top of machines can signal problems in red or normal operations in green.
Toyota's fixed-position stop system stops the final-assembly line after the product reaches a predetermined position.
Fixed-position stop is intended to avoid interrupting every other operation and to maintain jidoka by remedying abnormalities and not passing on defects.

Safety

The fixed-position stop method is described as not negatively affecting other workstation operations in terms of safety and quality.