---
title: Visual Controls
description: "A good workplace speaks. Visual Controls show everyone at a glance whether the process is normal, so problems surface in seconds, not at month-end. Watch the short video, then work with the toolkit PDF: it explains the method, shows a…"
url: "https://skillagility.com/en/resources/visual-controls/"
updated: "2026-10-08"
category: 05 CONTROL
---

# Visual Controls

A good workplace speaks. Visual Controls show everyone at a glance whether the process is normal, so problems surface in seconds, not at month-end. Watch the short video, then work with the toolkit PDF: it explains the method, shows a worked example and gives you a blank template to fill in.

Tool video

The short tool video will appear here.

[Visual-Controls_Toolkit_EN](https://skillagility.com/wp-content/plugins/embedpress/assets/pdf/web/viewer.html?&file=https%3A%2F%2Fskillagility.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F10%2FVisual-Controls_Toolkit_EN.pdf#key=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)

## Visual Controls in short

1. **Walk the Gemba.** Ask: what does someone need to see here to know if all is normal?
2. **Define normal.** Where things belong, how much, how fast, in what order.
3. **Make abnormal loud.** Outlines, red lines, empty slots, lights. A deviation must jump out.
4. **Place at the point of use.** At the station, not in a binder or on a distant screen.
5. **Test with a stranger.** Can a visitor tell normal from abnormal in five seconds?

Key points

- Normal vs. abnormal in 5 seconds.
- Make deviations impossible to miss.
- At the point of use.
- Updated by the people who work there.

**Related tools:** [Kamishibai](https://skillagility.com/en/resources/kamishibai/) · [5S Quick Wins](https://skillagility.com/en/resources/5s-quick-wins/) · [Control Chart (SPC)](https://skillagility.com/en/resources/control-chart/)