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Obeya (from Japanese ''Ōbeya'' 大部屋 "large room") is a team spirit improvement tool at an administrative level, originating from a long history of learning & improving. It is considered a component of
lean manufacturing Lean manufacturing is a methods of production, method of manufacturing goods aimed primarily at reducing times within the Operations management#Production systems, production system as well as response times from suppliers and customers. It is ...
. Obeya objectives are rapid decision-making, reduction in rework and reconsiderations, and reduction in unnecessary discussions. The Obeya Association enumerates 11 Obeya Principles that define Obeya and guide its improvement. The earliest notion of concept is believed to be the Analects of
Confucius Confucius (; pinyin: ; ; ), born Kong Qiu (), was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the phil ...
nearly 2500 years ago (
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
, 206 BC–220 AD). The use of Obeya rooms has been proven by many companies to be successful.


Description

The ''Obeya'' can be understood as a team spirit improvement tool at an administrative level. It originated from a long history of learning & improving. Often associated in product development, an Obeya room can also be a place for software development, a command center, managing new business strategy, workflow and project management. This tool forces people to work together without distractions and creates a great atmosphere to generate new ideas. Conceptually akin to a traditional "war room", an ''Obeya'' will contain visually engaging charts and graphs depicting such information as program timing, milestones and progress-to-date and countermeasures to existing technical or scheduling issues. It is considered a component of
lean manufacturing Lean manufacturing is a methods of production, method of manufacturing goods aimed primarily at reducing times within the Operations management#Production systems, production system as well as response times from suppliers and customers. It is ...
and in particular the
Toyota Production System The Toyota Production System (TPS) is an integrated socio-technical system, developed by Toyota, that comprises its management philosophy and practices. The TPS is a management system that organizes manufacturing and logistics for the automobile ...
. A variety of different analogies have been drawn between an obeya and other real life systems and structures. One such example is the bridge of a ship, where many different crewmates come together to support the operation of a complex entity by allowing all roles to be connected and understood. Obeya has been described as "the brain of the system". During the product and process development, all individuals involved in managerial planning meet in a "great room" to speed up communication and decision-making. This is intended to increase efficiency and bring a better flow to the project, as well as an understanding of one's role within the cycle of the process.


Objectives

The objectives behind an Obeya are rapid decision-making, reduction in rework and reconsiderations, and reduction in unnecessary discussions. Moreover, it is a method where multiple information sources are combined for optimal decision making, involving multiple parties simultaneously. This makes it an excellent governing model for organizations that work Agile, Lean, or plan to do so. The Obeya model is an inclusive organizational model as opposed to the hierarchical organizational models. So, an Obeya makes it possible to "design" for collaboration. In an Obeya strategy meets execution and (quite literally) the people involved in these subjects respectfully engage in conversation with each other. Obeya's objectives involve helping to answer the following questions: * Are we connected? * Is everyone working on the same things? * Are we meeting delivery/deadlines? * Do our decisions reach everyone? * Are we looking at the right information? * What problems do we want to solve? * Are the right people involved?


The 11 Obeya Principles

Set up by the Obeya Association, the 11 Obeya Principles define Obeya and guide its improvement – regardless of what methodology or approach you choose for your Obeya setup. Developed, used, tried and tested by the founders of the Obeya Association; Dolf Reijnders and Bart Bongers, as well as other Obeya practitioners worldwide; the 11 Obeya Principles serve as guiding star for all that is Obeya related.


About the Obeya Principles

There are common traits and characteristics that are shared by most Obeya that are represented in the 11 Obeya Principles. The Obeya Principles collect and synthesize these characteristics and aid best practice sharing. They are meant to guide Obeya use and development. The Obeya Principles provide a common language and a conceptual foundation of Obeya. An Obeya means to work across 4 quadrants: Mindset, Alignment, Workspace and Content. The 11 Principles further define how to approach work in an Obeya in every quadrant. The relative order of the separate Principles are regardless of their relevance. The combination of the principles with the roles Obeya Builders and Obeya Hosts provide a solid framework to approach Obeya. It provides grip in your Obeya setup without loss of flexibility. Mindset :''1. People come together in the Obeya to respectfully see, learn & act on vital information'' :''2. People are committed to engage in continuous improvement, resolving obstacles along the way'' Alignment :''3. In the Obeya, we communicate a strong sense of purpose'' :''4. Purpose is recognizably tied to our organizational strategy through meaningful objectives'' :''5. The Obeya connects strategy to execution with visible orientation on customer experience'' :''6. The Obeya meetings have a rhythm in sync with the operational heartbeat of the organization'' Workspace :''7. The Obeya visuals provide a logical and practical information and conversation flow'' :''8. The Obeya reflects a good understanding of the flow of work from start to delivery'' :''9. The Obeya is an attractive and available area, in proximity to the workfloor'' Content :''10. In the Obeya, we use analytics-driven-evidence to make business decisions.'' :''11. Data owners ensure information is easy to consume, readily available, up to date, and visually attractive''


History

The Analects of
Confucius Confucius (; pinyin: ; ; ), born Kong Qiu (), was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the phil ...
2500 years ago (
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
, 206 BC–220 AD). seem to be the earliest notion of what later developed into many different management philosophies. It is believed to have been written up by
Confucius Confucius (; pinyin: ; ; ), born Kong Qiu (), was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the phil ...
disciples over the course of 30 to 50 years. The Analects could be regarded as influential social and ethical philosophy. Rich, diverse and over 2500 years old, Confucian tradition teaches about the idea that good life lies in social relations, starting with family and extending into friends and community.
Confucianism Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China, and is variously described as a tradition, philosophy, Religious Confucianism, religion, theory of government, or way of li ...
highlights the question of what roles we occupy in our lifetime and what our obligations are regarding those roles.
Confucius Confucius (; pinyin: ; ; ), born Kong Qiu (), was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the phil ...
proposed learning as a cycle of stages. in which early stages are focused around improving understanding. Next. We need to think critically about what we (want to) learn, according to
Confucius Confucius (; pinyin: ; ; ), born Kong Qiu (), was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the phil ...
, simultaneously. We see the development of actual physical places where' the way is practiced 'evolving throughout Eastern history, making use of visual stimulation. It's not hard to draw links to modern day Obeya use.
Confucianism Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China, and is variously described as a tradition, philosophy, Religious Confucianism, religion, theory of government, or way of li ...
favors light government, informal means of social control and emotional harmony.
Confucius Confucius (; pinyin: ; ; ), born Kong Qiu (), was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the phil ...
can be considered an educator. encouraging constant questioning in the pursuit of learning. Later in history on the other side of the world, the West started building upon an idea what we would now call a '' scientific approach''.
Francis Bacon Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban (; 22 January 1561 – 9 April 1626) was an English philosopher and statesman who served as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England under King James I. Bacon argued for the importance of nat ...
(1561-1626 AD), an English philosopher and statesman, can be regarded as highly influential. He argued for inductive reasoning and careful observation (often derived from nature) to avoid misleading. One of Bacons' goals in life was to uncover truth. His methodological ways to uncover truth (science) also show a clear link to modern day Obeya's. It is believed that Bacons 'approach provided the roots of Plan-Do-Check-Act (
PDCA PDCA or plan–do–check–act (sometimes called plan–do–check–adjust) is an iterative design and management method used in business for the control and continual improvement of processes and products. It is also known as the Shewhart cy ...
) improvement cycles as proposed by Shewhart and Deming and eventually laid the foundations for SCRUM and Agile. With the start of the
Industrial Age The Industrial Age is a period of history that encompasses the changes in economic and social organization that began around 1760 in Great Britain and later in other countries, characterized chiefly by the replacement of hand tools with power-d ...
roughly from the 1800s on, management practices evolve, and Eastern and Western management philosophies start to influence each other. In
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
,
Toyota is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...
successfully adopted Deming's ideas, which lead to the Toyota Production system ( TPS). Resulting in higher standards for manufacturing. The resulting competition motivated American manufacturers to implement statistical quality control in the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. From the 1980s, both MIT and Harvard play vital roles in modeling management practices and providing empirical data / analyses. Visual management and the use of Obeya rooms became an integral part of said practices and are still becoming increasingly popular in modern days. Researching Obeya's rich historical background shows: * Many exchanges between Eastern and Western philosophies throughout history * Strong link with improvement cycles, especially PDCA * Obeya practice logically rooted within both Lean and Agile practices Both MIT and Harvard have been influential, modeling practices and making them * Focus on work floor and human development


Company usage

The use of Obeya rooms has been proven by many companies to be successful. Some examples of large businesses that use such a room are
Toyota is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...
, Nike,
Boeing The Boeing Company, or simply Boeing (), is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product support s ...
, and
Volvo The Volvo Group (; legally Aktiebolaget Volvo, shortened to AB Volvo, stylized as VOLVO) is a Swedish multinational manufacturing corporation headquartered in Gothenburg. While its core activity is the production, distribution and sale of truck ...
. These rooms help to promote problem solving among teams, as well as building communication and encourage team building. Silos are sections of companies that only communicate within their specific divisions or departments. Obeya rooms are designed to reduce silos within companies and increase communication.


Toyota

The roots of what is now a valuable management practice can be found across continents with many disciplines influencing each other throughout history. One of the more recognizable modern examples involving Obeya was at
Toyota is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...
during the G21 (Globe 21st century) Project, while building the Prius. Chief Engineer of the G21 project, Takeshi Uchiyamada "felt that he lacked the necessary authority to make the optimal decisions and thought he could be overrun by experienced discipline leaders in a way that was not optimal for the project as such". This need for support from the other leaders that Uchiyamada identified, is what manifested for him the first use of Obeya "large room" in this environment. The Obeya, was instituted "as an arena for all his discussions with the discipline leaders. In this room, the other discipline leaders would be present, and documents and data would be available to all."


Nike Europe

The Obeya Room has been proven to be the ticket to success and team building for leading shoe manufacturer, Nike Europe. They began to incorporate the use of Obeya room for their IT department. When they began to use the Obeya room they, "decided to focus on the Portfolio and Project Management function within Technology, for which we already had a lot of information." As use of Obeya rooms in this instance proved to be successful, the more Nike used the Obeya Room in other departments as well. Nike also realized that the more they focused on the success of the Obeya room, the effect was nothing short of positive. Mathijssen also states, "In our experience, an Obeya room creates a safety zone to make goals and problems visible, so they can be discussed openly, which leads to creative problem solving and innovation." All of which are the primary goals for the Obeya room no matter what business it is part of; a comfortable space for innovation, open communication, and problem solving.


Extended concepts


Adrenaline room

Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Inc. (TIEM) implemented the obeya room and saw it as a "valuable contributor to their lean enterprises".Jusko, J.
Obeya: The Brain of the Lean Enterprise
, ''Industry Week'', 30 September 2016, accessed 4 October 2016
It is referred as the ''
adrenaline Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is a hormone and medication which is involved in regulating visceral functions (e.g., respiration). It appears as a white microcrystalline granule. Adrenaline is normally produced by the adrenal glands a ...
room'', where managers go beyond reporting data and keeping teams up to date, but make a commitment to move forward with daily goals. Through active collaboration and support of all associates, real-time ideas get to build and real-time issues get solved.


iObeya

Many manufacturing companies have implemented the obeya room across factory operations. However, the Obeya room could not be implemented across all functions, which led to iObeya. iObeya is a digital visual management platform that mimics the obeya room experience virtually. It lets many firms collaborate effectively in a virtual setting. Jusko has reported that both
Volvo The Volvo Group (; legally Aktiebolaget Volvo, shortened to AB Volvo, stylized as VOLVO) is a Swedish multinational manufacturing corporation headquartered in Gothenburg. While its core activity is the production, distribution and sale of truck ...
and
PSA Group Peugeot S.A., trading as Groupe PSA () (formerly PSA Peugeot Citroën from 1991 to 2016) was a French Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company which produced automobiles and motorcycles unde ...
are using iObeya to support their global collaboration efforts.


See also

*


References


External links

* {{cite web, url=http://www.fastcompany.com/45195/word-toyota-drives-innovation/ , title=In a word, Toyota drives for innovation , date=July 31, 2002 Lean manufacturing Japanese business terms Toyota Production System