# Obeya

Operations · `Obeya` · verification: source checked

Obeya is a project-management and visual-management system in which a cross-functional team works in one room with timing, milestones, progress, and countermeasures displayed on walls. It is combined with a cadenced meeting structure so management can compare performance to plan and make problems visible. At Toyota it was used to shorten the PDCA cycle and support project success.

## Specification

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Kind | methodology |
| Origin | Toyota |

## Study notes

- Takeshi Uchiyamada is credited with creating the obeya management system.
- Uchiyamada was the Toyota chief engineer for the Prius.
- In the described system, he met every two to three days with all required technical experts in a room with all pertinent information posted on the walls.
- The posted information was available to everyone on the team at any time.
- The G21 project became known as the Prius.
- The obeya system is credited with making a major contribution to the Prius success and became a development staple at Toyota.
- In a healthcare example, Dr. Frederico Pinto of a cancer treatment center in Brazil shows a Green Room and explains how it works.

## Sources

1. [Obeya - A Resource Guide | Lean Enterprise Institute](https://www.lean.org/lexicon-terms/obeya/) (accessed 2026-10-25)

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