A vision board is just one tool that can help a manufacturing team define and visualize its goals. selamiozalp/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Many successful athletes and businesspeople use visualization to set and meet their goals. Imagining yourself doing something or accomplishing a goal is proven to be a useful tool in goal development and execution. In fact, a study at Cleveland Clinic found that virtual workouts actually generated physical improvement.

Your mind is an incredibly powerful tool. Using your mind to visualize and accomplish your activities can, and will, improve your results in operations, business, and troubleshooting.

I started writing a very different article for the new year. Then, the Monday after New Year’s Day, I talked to a young lady at my favorite coffee shop. Her name is Julia. She recently graduated from University of Alabama (for which this LSU alumnus forgave her) and wants to work supporting sustainable agriculture. Discussing her evolving personal and career objectives, she mentioned preparing a vision board.

Vision boards are something of an Oprah-style phenomenon. However, considering Oprah Winfrey’s media success, something she uses cannot be ignored. A vision board is simply a board of pictures, drawings, and thoughts. These components help to seed your ability to define and visualize what success means to you.

Forming sheet metal involves many variables that happen in the dark. Mechanical properties, friction, work hardening, metal flow, die wear, and plastic tensile instability all happen beyond our eye’s ability to see. We only notice the consequences (wrinkling, splitting, galling, and dimpling) in the formed component when the variables are out of specification. When you design your production activities, or troubleshoot issues, visualization walks you through the many tools and variables used to form your component. Visualization supports good design and solves issues.

Of course, we have virtualization software to simulate production with the tools and materials you use. Unfortunately, real-world things don’t always behave as consistently or predictably as our virtual simulations. Your software provides excellent assistance and guidance. However, your best tool for design remains your own knowledge, experience, and versatility to design for your environment.

Troubleshooting skills are a persistent problem among production managers. I’ve had many discussions about whether troubleshooting is a natural talent available only to a select few. In my opinion, we often fail to train employees adequately to stop and think their way through a problem. Proper training must involve teaching all the tools, technologies, and variables that affect production success. Production and maintenance employees also must understand how to step back from a new situation and visualize all the issues that could lead to a specific production problem. Of course, we have failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and production/maintenance checklists. Your best tool to solve issues quickly and effectively is your ability to assess a given situation thoroughly before removing panels and replacing components.

Business growth is the result of explicit visions that result in action. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses allows you to see opportunities for growth in your work environment, production results, and market offerings. Be willing to build a vision from your strengths. If you’re particularly skilled in a forming operation, look at new materials and industries you can pursue. If communication is an issue, envision how much improved work life will be with effective communication channels and, perhaps, fewer long meetings.

The following are some ideas to help you and your employees build a work environment that encourages visualization for real results:

Visualization is a remarkably effective tool in supporting company and employee growth. Visualization also can identify and resolve production and business issues. Software tools used in simulation and production management are terrific supplements to your skills and capabilities. Your mental exercise in seeing and defining where you want to be is, however, your greatest tool to support both your enjoyment of work and your production and business goals.

See More by Bill Frahm

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