One of the techniques that assist production is Andon systems. Andons are known as visual communication tools that provide information about production, report problems occurring during production, and notify of potential issues.

They can be simple or advanced. Advanced systems not only provide visual communication but also enable data collection and, when necessary, allow the production line to be stopped.

A good example to illustrate this concept is the flight boards we see at airports. These boards allow passengers to quickly see which flight is departing from which gate, at what time, and whether there is a delay. Similarly, Andon boards in production facilities display information at a glance, such as the amount of production on a specific line, whether the target production has been reached, and whether there is a malfunction or quality issue—if so, the type of problem.

If a production operator notices the line has stopped, they can press a button to call for maintenance. If materials are running out, they can call for Kanban. If they are unable to keep up with production, they can call the line leader. When the button is pressed, the type of incident is displayed on an LCD screen or LED board at the beginning of the line. Simultaneously, the system starts timing the incident in the background, recording details such as the type of issue, start time, duration, and the response time of the responsible personnel. These recorded data are later analyzed to resolve chronic issues and improve efficiency.