The Power of Visual Management in Boosting Workplace Efficiency

7 March 2023 by Lizzie Allen

Welcome to the Beaverswood blog, where we're always on the lookout for ways to improve efficiency in the workplace!

Today, we're excited to talk about the power of visual management solutions in boosting workplace efficiency.

Visual management is a simple but effective way to communicate important information to employees in a way that's easy to understand and remember. By using visual aids such as floor signs, 5S document pockets, shadow boards, and racksack®, companies can improve communication, organisation, and safety in the workplace.

In this blog post, we'll explore the benefits of visual management solutions and the different types of visual management products available. We'll also provide tips for implementing visual management solutions in the workplace and overcoming common challenges.

Whether you're a warehouse manager, logistics coordinator, or safety officer, we believe you'll find value in this post. So, let's dive in and discover the power of visual management!

BENEFITS OF VISUAL MANAGEMENT

Visual management solutions offer numerous benefits to companies of all sectors and sizes. Here are just a few reasons why you should consider implementing visual management in your workplace:

Increased Efficiency:

Visual management can help employees work more efficiently by providing them with clear instructions and guidelines. By using visual aids such as shadow boards and graphic floor markers, employees can quickly locate tools and equipment, reducing the time they spend searching for them. This can lead to a significant increase in productivity and efficiency.
Improved Communication:

Visual management solutions can also improve communication in the workplace by providing a common language that all employees can understand. By using standardised labels, signs, and displays, companies can reduce the risk of miscommunication and errors, leading to a safer and more efficient workplace. For example, racksack® has 5 symbol-only designs for worldwide use, helping employees segregate waste in the workplace.
Better Organisation:

By using visual aids such as 5S document holders, companies can better organise their workspaces, reducing clutter and improving workflow. This can lead to a more organised and efficient workplace, with less wasted time and effort.
Enhanced Safety:

Visual management products such as graphic floor markers are an easy way to improve safety in the workplace. By highlighting hazards or outlining special requirements, companies can lower the risk of accidents by using this nifty product.

Perhaps one of the most famous examples of a company that has successfully implemented visual management products as part of its 5S lean manufacturing processes is Toyota, which uses a system of visual signals and signs to manage its production line.

Additionally, the healthcare industry routinely uses colour-coded labels and signs to improve staff and patient safety. Overall, many industries have integrated 5S visual management practices into their own processes, whether it's HP, Boeing, Harley-Davidson, Nike, Caterpillar, or Ford.

By implementing visual management solutions in your workplace, you can improve efficiency, communication, and organisation, leading to a safer and more productive workplace.

TYPES OF VISUAL MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS

Visual management solutions come in many different forms, each with its own unique features and benefits. Here are three types of visual management products that can help boost efficiency in your workplace:

Shadow Boards:

Shadow boards are a simple but effective way to organise tools and equipment in the workplace. By placing tools and equipment on a board with an outline of their shape, employees can quickly and easily see if a tool is missing or out of place. This can reduce the time employees spend searching for tools and improve workflow.
Graphic Floor Markers:

Graphic floor markers are a great way to communicate important information to employees in a way that's hard to miss. By placing markers on the floor, companies can indicate safe walking paths, areas where caution is required, or designated storage areas. This can improve safety and reduce the risk of accidents in the workplace.
5S Document Holders:

5S document holders are a great way to organise and display important documents in the workplace. By using coloured document holders, companies can easily display important documents such as work instructions, safety procedures, or quality standards. This can improve organisation and ensure employees have access to the information they need to do their jobs effectively.
racksack®:

racksack® enables users to create a sustainable, tidier, safer, and more productive workplace. The design on the front displays which type of waste should be deposited in the racksack®, allowing waste segregation to happen efficiently.

TIPS FOR IMPLEMENTING VISUAL MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

Implementing visual management solutions in the workplace can be a challenging task, especially if it's a new concept for your employees. Here are some tips to help you implement them successfully:

Start Small:

It's important to start small when implementing visual management solutions in the workplace. Choose one area of your workplace to focus on and introduce a few visual management products. Once your employees are familiar with the products, you can expand to other areas.
Involve Employees:

Involve your employees in the implementation process by asking for their input and feedback. This will help you choose the right products for your workplace and ensure employees are invested in the process.
Provide Training:

Provide training to your employees on how to use visual management products effectively. This will ensure they understand the purpose of the products and how to use them correctly.
Monitor Progress:

Monitor the progress of your visual management implementation by regularly checking in with your employees and evaluating the effectiveness of the products. This will help you identify areas for improvement and make adjustments as needed.
Be Patient:

Implementing visual management solutions takes time and patience. It may take some time for your employees to adjust to the new products and processes, so be patient and provide support as needed.

By following these tips, you can successfully implement visual management solutions in your workplace and improve efficiency, communication, and organisation.

CONCLUSION

Visual management solutions are a powerful tool for boosting workplace efficiency, improving communication, and enhancing safety. By using visual management products such as shadow boards, graphic floor markers, 5S document holders, and racksack®, companies can improve organisation, reduce waste, and increase productivity.

Implementing visual management solutions in the workplace can be challenging, but by starting small, involving employees, providing training, monitoring progress, and being patient, companies can successfully implement visual management solutions and see the benefits first-hand.

Remember, visual management is not just a one-time implementation, but rather an ongoing process of continuous improvement. By embracing visual management solutions, companies can create a more efficient and productive workplace, improve employee morale, and ultimately achieve greater success.

So why not give it a try and see the power of visual management for yourself?

Become a Beaverswood® Reseller and Increase Your Revenue Today!

Established in 1984, we make the workplace work smarter with our range of visual management products, suitable for lean manufacturing and 5S - or any workplace that needs to be safe, productive, and in order.

With nearly forty years of reseller experience, not only are our products easy to use but so is our company! Our team of experts support you, our reseller, every step of the way; starting with an advanced reseller toolkit and continuing with drop-ship delivery, excellent lead times, and superb customer service.

T: 0118 979 6096

E: sales@beaverswood.co.uk

The Best Way to Make Use of your Rack-End Space

11 July 2022 by Lizzie Allen

Introducing a complete space-saving warehouse rack-end solution!

Warehouse space is at a premium in the UK and Europe due to soaring demand. As such, businesses must find smart solutions to do more with less and maximise their warehouse space utilisation.

Fortunately, we have just the thing! Our recently launched Modulean® Rack End Boards are an innovative way to use otherwise redundant end-of-aisle racking space. Not only this, but they’re the perfect complement to many of our other rack-end products, such as racksack®, rack end barriers, half-circle floor markers, weight load notices, and aisle markers.

Let’s take a closer look at each product in detail, shall we?

Modulean® Rack End Boards

Our innovative Modulean® range takes away the need (and the headache!) for custom shadow boards. The ingenious range of standard boards can be used widely across the workplace, removing a great deal of expense and time associated with purchasing shadow boards.

And where better to utilise Modulean® than at the end of aisle racking?

Be gone dead space! Now there’s a nifty Modulean® shadow board incorporating sanitising, cleaning, first aid, or fire safety products instead (all of which come supplied, displayed, and ready to go)! We’ve also got you covered if you’d prefer a rack end board with a simple whiteboard or racksack® affixed instead.

Not to mention each board comes with a title frame, fixings, and a weight load notice to help you comply with regulations. And every board is available with either single or double aisle markers (in the form of our best seller frames4docs®, no less).

So, that’s it! One product, one complete end-of-aisle racking solution to make your warehouse work smarter.

But the clever space-saving solutions don’t stop there. Let’s introduce you to racksack®!

racksack®

racksack® is the original market-leading solution for waste segregation. Designed to save valuable floor space and simplify what can sometimes be a complicated and laborious process, this mighty family of products delivers a sustainable, tidier, and more productive workplace.

So how does it work?

We supply racksack® with S hooks (or you can purchase a bungee loop, or wall-mounted hook for the racksack® mini). This makes racksack® easy to secure wherever it needs to go – whether that be on a rack end, trolley, or roll cage. Once hung, racksack® has a large open mouth (which we lovingly refer to as a frog mouth) to easily receive waste. However, its cleverly tapered design enables it to hardly encroach into the floor area. You can also easily empty racksack^®, thanks to the three strong handles woven into each side.

Simple, right?

Take a look at the growing range to see if anything takes your fancy (we bet at least one racksack^® will catch your eye!), or continue reading to explore the wonderful world of rack-end barriers!

Rack-End Barriers

Adding a Modulean^® and racksack^® to the end of your aisle racking is all well and good (in fact, we highly recommend it). However, the safety of your staff and the security of your stock should always come first. And this is a task our range of rack-end barriers excels at!

In a nutshell, rack-end barriers protect racking from potential collisions. They ensure vehicles don’t impact your racking but instead deflect off the barrier.

Manufactured from a flexible HDPE polymer with a foam diffuser, our rack-end barriers flex and absorb upon impact due to their unique design. They’re also highly visible to personnel, which acts as a deterrent before an impact even occurs. Not only this, but they’re super quick and simple to install with all fixings provided.

No rack-end is complete without adequate protection. In fact, we believe rack-end barriers are a health and safety must in warehouse environments!

So once you have your rack-end barriers installed and your racking protected, scroll down to learn about half-circle floor markers.

Half-Circle Floor Markers

This is going to be short and sweet!

Our half-circle floor graphic markers can be used underneath our racksack® range, or other bins, to highlight waste recycling areas. As such, they’re the perfect addition to your end-of-aisle racking – especially when used in combination with the other rack-end solutions mentioned in this article.

They feature a super-strong, permanent adhesive to stop them from peeling or lifting, even in high-traffic areas. (Seriously – once you’ve stuck them down, they won’t be shifting for love nor money!)

These floor graphic markers are also quick and easy to install compared to traditional marking methods, which makes using them a no-brainer.

Now onwards, to weight load notices! (Which are more exciting than they sound, promise.)

Weight Load Notices

No rack-end is complete without a mandatory weight load notice. These nifty notices provide key information on what weights the racking can hold along with other important safety and maintenance advice.

Which is why we include one with every Modulean^® rack-end board! Our weight load notices can be printed with weight limits and information, all you need to do is confirm the details you need printed. If no information is received, we’ll supply blank notices for you to add your own information with a marker pen.

Incorporating weight load notices is just another way in which our Modulean^® rack-end boards make the best use of end-of-aisle racking space.

Now onto our last rack-end solution… aisle markers!

Aisle Markers

We’ve all seen them in IKEA as we frantically try to locate a flat-pack cupboard. Or maybe you’ve been in B&Q, desperately on the hunt for some BBQ charcoal before the warm weather disappears.

Whatever the case, aisle markers are the simplest and most effective way to instantly locate the product you’re looking for. As such, we’ve taken the liberty of adding them to our Modulean^® rack-end boards to improve product identification in your warehouse.

Each board is available with either single or double aisle markers in the form of our best seller frames4docs®. These make the inserts easy to change and replace as frequently as required.

It really is as simple as that!

And that’s a wrap!

So there you have it – a simple system of complementary rack-end products to transform dead space into working space.

Interested in any of the products (or the whole rack-end solution)? Take a look at the rack-end solutions range or get in touch with one of our busy beavers – we’ll be happy to help!

+44 (0) 118 979 6096

sales@beaverswood.co.uk

Important Safety Signs Regulations

6 June 2022 by Lizzie Allen

In a busy workplace, you may start to ‘overlook’ signage and fall short of H&S compliance and risk management targets. Making it important to regularly review safety signs regulations.

Are you fully familiar with current workplace safety signs regulations in the UK? Next, the big question is whether your company is still keeping within the rules, and using the correct signs, in the correct places!

Particularly in complex, busy or ever-changing work environments, this issue is far from straightforward. Also, the global pandemic is the perfect example of how safety signage guidelines and demands can alter!

This article is a guide to important safety sign regulations and outlines the latest products for workplace safety communications and compliance.

Beyond compliance; the value of proper signage

Evaluating how up to date your safety signs are is not just about meeting UK regulations (more on this later).

Of course, the biggest reason safety signs are so important is that they prevent injuries to staff or site visitors. Apart from the duty of care you hold, you could face litigation, fines or loss of reputation, if someone is hurt due to poor safety issue communication.

Safety signs can also help you to avoid problems from structural collisions, accidental damage to sensitive electrical equipment and vehicle repair bills!

However, doing a thorough risk assessment and updating workplace signs also brings a far less tangible benefit. Your staff feel safer!

The presence of highly visible, correct and strategically placed safety signs is reassuring not least in demonstrating how serious you are about employee health and welfare.

Do safety signs work?

The answer is yes, but in a qualified way. This also links with why you must stay up to date with safety sign regulations.

To be truly effective, your workplace safety signage needs to be regularly reviewed, refreshed and updated. This prevents it from becoming ‘invisible’ over time, or literally hard to see due to being blocked, faded or placed in inappropriate locations.

Do you understand the different categories of safety signs?

When you get workplace signage right, it does play a significant role in reducing safety accidents, by drawing attention to hazards or prompting essential actions.

Also, keep in mind it doesn’t replace all the other things you can do to maintain site safety. For example, your site speed restriction signs may need to be accompanied by robust, high vis speed bumps!

Best practice and safety signs regulations

Ensuring your signage is up to date and truly visible becomes easier when you evaluate it within the context of the latest H&S rules on this topic. The HSE provides a free downloadable guide to help you.

This backs up what we mentioned above: “Safety signs and signals are required where, despite putting in place all other relevant measures, a significant risk to the health and safety of employees and others remains.”

We gave one example of that above, but others include using trip and slip hazard signs in conjunction with specialist flooring and other physical safety management methods.

Other H&S guidelines include:

Specific and clear signs for traffic management.
Proper maintenance of safety signs.
Training for existing and new staff in the meaning of safety signs and any actions they demand.

The best safety signs

We sell high quality and durable safety signs at low prices. However, the focus is still on you placing them in strategic locations.

Even simple safety communication tools such as hi-vis floor tapes and other low-cost H&S stickers need to be placed correctly, to be effective.

For example, informative safety signs should be well spaced out to emphasise visual clarity. Modulean® Shadow Boards are a great way to group safety messages and insights together in an impactful way.

Also, floor markers are not always sufficient and you need to source signs that can be mounted on different surfaces, (including ones directed at HGV and LGV drivers).

Safety signs for warehouses and other high-risk areas – such as weight load markers for racking – must be visible at a glance.

There are other tips in our guide to types of safety signage, so this article will be well worth a read.

Of course, it also helps if you source safety signs designed to deliver maximum clarity and impact, using proven methods of getting attention. Such as incorporating the universal colour coding system for workplace signs.

These are all things we have considered when interpreting safety signs regulations and the needs of modern workplaces. Get in touch with Beaverwood’s workplace product advisors for prices and more product ideas.

Shadow Board Solutions: 5 Safety Options For Your Workplace

22 March 2021 by Lizzie Allen

There are some vital components of every workplace that often get sidelined or hidden from view. Here, we will look at how you can use shadow board solutions to benefit your workplace and display important materials.

1. First Aid Board

Accidents happen everywhere, and the workplace can be one of the places where first aid is needed most of all. Even if you have your fully trained first aiders on staff, it can be hard to know where your first aid boxes are in an emergency. At this time more than ever, clarity and ease are vitally important.

With first aid shadow board solutions, your needs will be met in a way that everyone in the workplace can access easily, whether they are trained in first aid or not.

These boards can be easily set up in common areas around your building and come complete with a medium first aid kit suitable for between eleven and twenty people and an A4 black frame where you can keep your own first-aid insert. This can be used to inform people who your trained first aiders are, where they are located, and other handy information.

2. Dry Cleaning Board

Many office spaces or other places of work have cleaners, but sometimes we need to clean up as we go. Whether for your administration staff or your cleaning staff, a dry cleaning shadow board is a good way to have cleaning supplies on hand throughout the building.

Supplied with a coloured band that will correlate to your choice of board, each dry cleaning board comes with a black dustpan and brush. These are must-haves for those little accidents, or just having a convenient way for cleaners to get those last little spots as they sanitise your workplace.

3. Fire Safety Board

The importance of fire safety cannot be overstated. Not only does having the correct information on display keep everybody educated and safe, but it is also a legal requirement in office spaces. This can also be an important requirement of your building insurance as a business owner.

However, often fire safety information and fire essentials are placed in kitchens where no one thinks to look at them. You can set up a much clearer alternative with a shadow board that comes with a one-kilo powder fire extinguisher, a fire blanket and a fire alarm. This is an excellent way to set up a clear fire safety station in your office or warehouse environment and works especially well in open-plan spaces.

4. Hand sanitiser board

Keeping hand sanitiser in a visible and easily accessible location has become more important than ever in the past twelve months. Now, it is expected that workplaces will provide employees with plenty of opportunities to sanitise their hands and encourage them to do so as frequently as possible.

If you are struggling with how to encourage your staff members to sanitise, hand sanitiser shadow board solutions could be the answer. Unobtrusive within your office space, this board is ideal for reception areas, offices and common areas, as well as a range of other locations such as warehouses and schools.

This board comes with a range of essentials for sanitisation, including foam hand sanitiser dispenser and alcohol-free hand and surface wipes. If your employees have been bemoaning cracked hands, there is even a moisturising cream dispenser to help keep hands protected from germs and undamaged by regular washing and sanitising.

5. Notice Board

General notices can end up stuck all over the walls in offices. This can lead to damage to the walls, not to mention that many staff members will pass these notices by – both personal and essential professional information – without a second glance.

Using a shadow board as a notice board in a communal area is an excellent way to have a central hub for notices. This board comes with four black A4 frames suitable for high priority notices to be placed clearly in an area that most staff frequent – such as a reception or lunchroom. Never have important information missed by staff again!

Shadow board solutions are a fantastic way to incorporate safety and information stations into your workplace in a way that draws attention and provides clarity for staff. Get in touch with Beaverswood if you require any help setting up your boards in the best way possible.

New, Highly Visual Systems For Workplace Messaging

23 November 2020 by Lizzie Allen

Clear and unmissable communications are vital in any workplace, including accessible notice boards and reference documents. It is information to keep staff safe, productive and focused on operational priorities. So, what’s new? Introducing, highly visual systems for workplace messaging.

Public sector organisations, industry and commerce all still rely heavily on the printed word. There really is no adequate replacement for workplace noticeboards or for hard copies of paperwork mounted so they can be quickly used for reference and recording purposes.

The trick is to avoid this information being overlooked in your workplace. You also need to display it in a way that protects it from constant damage. Even in offices, information displays can be the subject of both accidental and deliberate destruction or defacement. In warehouses and factories, documents and notice boards also have to cope with environmental factors. Have you ever tried writing inspection updates on damp paper?

Fortunately, the designers of commercial display products have taken these issues into account by formulating highly visual systems for workplace messaging. There are new ways to display documents and messages in your workplace, to keep them readable, durable and hard to miss.

This article explores some of the best innovations in workplace communication systems.

Modulean Shadow Boards

Modulean Shadow Boards for your factory floor, office, warehouse or depot.

Shadow boards are a creative, high impact way to signal important workplace information but can also include panels to physically mount equipment needed for everyday maintenance and safety.

Beaverswood is a Modulean Shadow Boards supplier because these products are versatile but also sturdy. You can mix and match to get the right configuration for your factory floor, office, warehouse or depot. That includes adding in clear and highly visible graphics noticeboards, and magnetic wipe-clean boards for temporary information. They provide modules suitable for displaying dry or wet maintenance equipment – with even a pull-down paper towel dispenser. You can opt for a First Aid notice board and equipment holder, or an eyewash and accident station.

It basically means that your business or public building can have all its vital equipment and information neatly stored and accessible, both at the same time.

Modulean Lite

Modulean lite – Wall mounted, free-standing and mobile solution.

We are also an online supplier of Modulean Lite, a more recent addition to this excellent range of display boards. This smaller version is ideal for more compact work areas, or to focus on one safety or operational message. For example, it can be used as the best way to mount fire extinguishers and instructions, to display first aid boxes or as a system to hold critical waste disposal tools and guidance.

Like the full-scale notice and equipment shadow boards, Modulean Lite can be wall-mounted. However, it can also be a free-standing and mobile solution, so you can relocate important workplace information and equipment to wherever it’s needed.

Coloured Self Adhesive Document Pockets

A robust document wallets that can be stuck firmly to different surfaces

When space is tight – or you need to disperse information and reporting systems across a lot of locations – this is a simple but effective display option. You can buy coloured, adhesive document wallets in small numbers or bulk, to match your specific workplace notice needs.

These robust document wallets that can be stuck firmly to different surfaces. They also support colour coded business messaging. For example, red for important safety information or inspection files, green for first aid documents and notices, and yellow for operational materials and assessment forms.

Your everyday business information will be close to hand, easy to see but shielded by a strong plastic cover.

More versatile display options

Beaverswood offers more great ideas for displaying information, reports and equipment in your premises, including Styrene Hanging Pockets for documents on trolleys and racks, ring binders you can wall mount, Frames4Windows and magnetic wrap-around pockets. You can even buy weather-resistant document wallets online, from us.

We only stock workplace display systems that are robust products, designed to be seen but also to stand up well to constant use.

More on the importance of notice boards here.

Modulean® Shadow Board Tool Organisation

4 November 2020 by Lizzie Allen

Modulean® Shadow Board Tool Organisation

Modulean® shadow boards are a simple and effective way of organising important workplace items. Designed with the ‘5S’ system in mind (Sort, Set In Order, Shine, Standardise and Sustain) shadows boards have many benefits, including:

Improved productivity
Easy traceability of tools
Staff accountability
Workspace utilisation
Value for money

Our Modulean® shadow boards are a highly visual and useful tool (excuse the pun) to keep track of tools and equipment. Having a set location for specific tooling helps prevent them from getting lost and brings staff accountability; to return the tools to their rightful place after use. Shadow boards are also great for creating a focal point (or ‘station’), for example a first aid station. Meaning there is a designated location when looking for the first aid kit in order to deal with minor incidents or emergency situations in a timely manner, causing less panic and confusion.

Modulean® shadow boards are available in various colours (blue, green, red or yellow), with products on display, and optional accessories.

Now available in a Lite version with an optional mobile framework stand.

Continue reading to find out more…

5S lean shadow boards for optimised tool stations and tool tracking

5S is a workplace organization method that uses a list of five Japanese words: seiri, seiton, seisō, seiketsu, and shitsuke. These have been translated as “Sort”, “Set In order”, “Shine”, “Standardize” and “Sustain”. 6S, a modification of the 5S methodology which includes “Safety” as the 6th S.

Modulean® Lite

Introducing our newest addition to the Modulean® range, Modulean® Lite.
A lighter and more compact set of 500mm high x 500mm wide shadow boards to help improve organisation in the workplace and create stations without taking up too much valuable floor or wall space.

Modulean Lite First Aid Station Kit Shadow Board Green — First Aid Board [Green]

Modulean Lite Face Mask and Glove Dispenser Shadow Board Green — Mask And Glove Dispenser [Green]

Modulean Lite Dry Cleaning Station Dustpan and Brush Shadow Board Blue — Dry Cleaning Board [Blue]

Modulean Lite Notice Board with Frames Shadow Board Yellow — Notice Board [Yellow]

Modulean Lite Dry Cleaning Station Dustpan and Brush Shadow Board Green — Dry Cleaning Board [Green]

Modulean Lite Notice Board with Frames Shadow Board Red — Notice Board [Red]

Hand Sanitiser Station Shadow Board Blue — Sanitising Board [Blue]

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Designs include:

Dry Cleaning Board* – For dry cleaning, consisting of a black dustpan and brush. Each product is supplied with a coloured band to match the board colour of your choice.
Fire Safety Board – Supplied with a 1 kilo powder fire extinguisher and battery operated fire alarm.
First Aid Board* – Consists of a medium first aid kit (with contents for 11-20 people) and a black A4 frame to take a custom insert.
Mask and Glove Dispenser – Consists of an empty face mask box and a glove dispenser for the gloves of your choice.
Notice Board* – A notice board consisting of one A4 and two A5 black frames, to take custom inserts.
Sanitising Board – Supplied with an alcohol hand gel dispenser and an alcohol-free sanitising wipes dispenser.

[* = Choose from 4 colours]

Modulean® Lite is also available with a mobile framework stand that is 1920mm high x 505mm wide x 400mm long. This framework enables the user to display 4 Modulean® Lite shadow boards (2 on each side). Featuring wheels on one foot for ease of mobility when a change of location is needed. The framework is supplied separately to the boards.

Moodulean Lite Shadow Boards on Black Frame

Modulean® Lite shadow boards on the black mobile framework

If the mobile framework is not necessary the boards can also be easily screw-fixed into a wall for a more secure and permanent location.

Each board is supplied with a black self-adhesive title frame, allowing users to customise the header of the board by inserting a custom title or company name/logo.

Hand Placing Insert in Title Frame for Board

Black title frames are supplied with each board allowing for custom inserts

Modulean® shadow boards and Modulean® Lite shadow boards are a vibrant way of stationing and keeping track of important workplace tools.

If you are interested in Modulean® please click one of the links below ⬇

Click HERE to find our more about Modulean®…

Click HERE to become a reseller

MODULEAN™ – Without A Shadow Of A Doubt

9 October 2019 by Lizzie Allen

MODULEAN™ Shadow Boards offer a unique modular system, with stand-out design and practicality.

Focused on easily accessible items which are simple to use – the silhouette on the boards encourages users to return the items once finished.

Ideal in a number of different environments, from offices and schools to warehouses and retail.

Read on to find out more…

5S Lean

The goal of the Modulean™ shadow boards is to improve the maintenance of the environment using the 5S lean system.

What is 5S? 5S represents Japanese words that describe the steps of a workplace organisation process, the Japanese words include: seiri, seiton, seisō, seiketsu, and shitsuke – These have been translated as “Sort”, “Set In Order”, “Shine”, “Standardise” and “Sustain”.

Each “S” represents one part of a five-step process that can improve the overall function and safety of a business. Some might argue that “Safety” is the sixth step; 6S!

Over time, the 5S system has many benefits, including:

• Reduced costs

• Increased productivity

• Greater employee satisfaction

• A safer work environment

Board Designs

The Modulean™ boards are currently available in 7 designs:

Board 1 – 5S Information Board is a general information board for 5S and lean management with an A3 black frame for your own notice

Board 2 – Notice Board consists of 4 x black A4 frames for your own A4 inserts

Board 3 – Magnetic Easy Wipe Board is a blank white board with a dry wipe write on surface

Board 4 – Cleaning Board Dry is for dry cleaning – consisting of a black dustpan and brush with a coloured band matching the board colour of your choice (Blue, Green, Red or Yellow)

Board 5 – Cleaning Board Wet consists of a centre pull dispenser and space for a cleaner bottle of your choice (paper towels and cleaner bottle not included)

Board 6 – Cleaning Board XL consists of 2 connected boards with a mop, brush bucket and ‘A’ frame floor sign, with an A4 yellow and black chevron frame to insert your own warning information. Supplied with a coloured band matching the board colour of your choice (Blue, Green, Red or Yellow)

Board 7 – First Aid Board consists of a wall-bracketed medium first aid kit (with contents for 11-20 people) with an A4 black frame for your own first aid sign

MODULEAN Shadow Boards

Each board is 750mm square which allows for multiple boards to be placed together. Supplied with fixings and a black title panel which allows you to insert your own printed header for the board.

Example

A great example of the modularity of the shadow boards would be combining the Dry and Wet Cleaning Boards with the XL Cleaning Board to create a professional cleaning station. Offering a complete maintenance framework for constant shine!

How to maintain your workspaces might seem clear, but it’s important to show employees which cleaning tools to use, where cleaning materials are stored, and how to clean equipment properly, particularly if it’s equipment or surfaces that could be easily damaged. To help support 5S practices, make sure all employees receive adequate training about their designated area’s 5S procedures.

Professional Cleaning Station

Vis Comm Boards

Vis Comm Boards are a part of the Modulean™ system and fall under the safety and standardise modules – they include the 5S Information Board, the Notice Board and the Magnetic Easy Wipe Board. These three boards are designed specifically to display important information to employees. The Easy Wipe Board has the additional benefit of having a magnetic receptive surface, as well an easy wipe gloss finish.

Exhibit

Having exhibited MODULEAN™ to great feedback at the International Material Handling Exhibition, hundreds of visitors were keen to implement the boards in their own workspaces. The proudly displayed Modulean™ stand allowed special guests to see the quality and benefits of the modular system.
There are already intentions to expand the range with new shadow board ideas and designs being suggested daily! This reaffirms the fact that this is an innovative product that has the opportunity to keep evolving.

WHY MODULEAN™?

Modulean™ has taken away the need (and the headache!) for custom-built shadow boards, by creating a range of boards that are widely used across the workplace, removing a great deal of expense and time that is associated with purchasing other shadow boards. These simple-to-store, simple-to-transport and simple-to-install boards are available in a standard range that covers the full spectrum of the 5S lean process – sure to fulfil any company’s requirements of a shadow board.

Modulean™ is pioneering – without a shadow of a doubt.

10 Simple Tips For A More Productive Warehouse

12 June 2019 by Lizzie Allen

Warehouse managers are always looking for ways to work smarter, leaner and more efficiently.

Here are some simple tips to make life easier for everyone in the workplace.

Free up space for your waste and recycling

Waste is inevitable in the warehouse. The racksack® is the perfect solution to your warehouse-waste-woes. Easily hung on racking, the racksack® can be filled with up to 160L of waste. This frees up valuable warehouse space that a lot of businesses are currently having to dedicate to giant wheelie bins. With a wide selection of print designs to choose from you can be sure to find a solution for your largest waste culprits.

Highly visible signs and labels

Improving the flow of a warehouse as well as increasing health and safety awareness, signs and labels are important features of any warehouse. Important warnings and notices should be displayed clearly to meet HSE standards and regulations. Racking labels and identification are also important for improving warehouse logistics.

Optimise your storage space with racking and shelving

Sounds obvious right? But if you want your warehouse to be neat, storage efficient and safe, then racking and shelving is a must, and one of the first things you should look at streamlining. There are various types of racking: Cantilever racking, selective racking, push-back racking, drive-in racking, pallet flow racking and carton flow racking, among others. Do your research, and decide which racking and shelving is most effective for your warehouse space.

Dedicate specific areas to employees

This is the equivalent of making them feel like they have their own “office”! With dedicated areas, your warehouse also becomes more structured, and less chaotic. Come up with a floor plan, factoring in population and current warehouse capacity, and designate staff accordingly.

Housekeeping!

You should routinely clean your warehouse, don’t let it gradually descend into a dust and dirt haven. Keep cleaning products close by and easily available. Encourage pride in your workspace. Set up a routine where tools, machinery, merchandise and paperwork are all left in satisfactory condition by the end of each working day or week. Visual management boards are a great way of keeping the warehouse in tip-top shape.

Keep a suitable First Aid Kit nearby for any accidents

Injuries can be common in a warehouse environment, with heavy machinery and sharp tools being used each and every day. Having a visible and easily accessible First Aid Kit station on site can lead to a quick, potentially life-changing response. Be sure to have a trained first aider in your ranks, and make people aware of who and where that person can be found in case of an emergency.

Shift rotations and progression

Keeping your staff on their toes is imperative for achieving a happy and dynamic team. Some tasks can get tedious after a while. Where possible, make sure your staff are well trained in all aspects of warehouse duties and responsibilities – not only does this mean you can assign them to any task without dubiety, but it also covers duties when staff members are off sick or on annual leave. This will have a positive impact on productivity and will also improve individual progression which is great for team confidence.

Keep on top of inventory control

Whether it’s through computer system software or a simple pen-and-paper, checking system, your stock levels need to be observed and accurately recorded. Regular stock-taking (usually yearly, but can be weekly, monthly, quarterly) ensures quantities and the condition of items are precise. Visual stock marking is a great way of monitoring stock control.

Get rid of old stock!

Sometimes we can be hoarders, even in business. But there comes a time when those old products collecting dust on the top shelf are taking up valuable storage space that could be used for other items. If the stock hasn’t moved for a while, and you believe the value has decreased significantly… Get. Rid. However, if you think the stock is too good for a skip, perhaps think about selling your items in bulk, using auctions or online resale websites.

Communicate

This seems obvious, and yet is vitally important – Your warehouse is only as efficient as your team. Set up weekly/monthly/quarterly meetings for feedback and evaluations. Add a suggestion box for those who might not feel comfortable putting forward their ideas. Employees will often know the warehouse and its routines inside out – tapping into their brains for ideas can often be the best and quickest way to improve your organisation. If everyone is on the same page it makes the warehouse a much happier, more productive place to be!

The racksack® can be easily hung onto warehouse racking systems and doesn’t intrude on valuable floor space

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BENEFITS OF VISUAL MANAGEMENT

Increased Efficiency:

Improved Communication:

Better Organisation:

Enhanced Safety:

TYPES OF VISUAL MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS

Shadow Boards:

Graphic Floor Markers:

5S Document Holders:

racksack®:

TIPS FOR IMPLEMENTING VISUAL MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

Start Small:

Involve Employees:

Provide Training:

Monitor Progress:

Be Patient:

CONCLUSION

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Introducing a complete space-saving warehouse rack-end solution!

Modulean® Rack End Boards

racksack®

Rack-End Barriers

Half-Circle Floor Markers

Weight Load Notices

Aisle Markers

And that’s a wrap!

Beyond compliance; the value of proper signage

Do safety signs work?

Best practice and safety signs regulations

The best safety signs

1. First Aid Board

2. Dry Cleaning Board

3. Fire Safety Board

4. Hand sanitiser board

5. Notice Board

More versatile display options

Modulean® Shadow Board Tool Organisation

Modulean® Lite

5S Lean

Board Designs

Example

Vis Comm Boards

Exhibit

WHY MODULEAN™?

Free up space for your waste and recycling

Highly visible signs and labels

Optimise your storage space with racking and shelving

Dedicate specific areas to employees

This is the equivalent of making them feel like they have their own “office”! With dedicated areas, your warehouse also becomes more structured, and less chaotic. Come up with a floor plan, factoring in population and current warehouse capacity, and designate staff accordingly.

Housekeeping!

Keep a suitable First Aid Kit nearby for any accidents

Shift rotations and progression

Keep on top of inventory control

Get rid of old stock!

Communicate

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