An examination of visual management on Finnish construction sites

Visual Management (VM), which is one of the founding blocks of the Toyota
Production System, is the managerial strategy of integrating information and sensory
aids into work settings for increased self-management. This paper presents the
preliminary findings of a collaborative research conducted between Finland and the
UK, as part of an effort to introduce the dissemination of Visual Management in the
Finnish construction industry. How the Visual Management concept is realised on
Finnish construction sites is the main research question of the paper. The examination
of the current Visual Management conditions on typical Finnish construction sites
was conducted through multiple case studies carried out on five different construction
sites in the country. The findings were presented by case descriptions. The main
finding is that the Visual Management strategy is currently at an initial level and
based on individual initiatives, not systematic company approaches. The discussion of
the Visual Management conditions in Finland, some recommendations for the
implementation of Visual Management in the country, and the future Visual
Management research efforts were also presented.