Manage the Flow Visually

Ideally, you want everyone within the flow to be able to self-monitor whether the rate, quality, and quantity of their work is optimized to meet the end of flow performance targets. You also want everyone to be able to distinguish between normal and abnormal operations quickly (real-time feedback) so that defective work is not sent downstream and help can be dispatched when and where it is needed to get things back to normal right away.

This principle typically makes timely information on status, progress, problems, and performance results visible to everyone within the flow as part of their daily work. It helps focus attention not only on maintaining the rhythm of regular flow operation, but also on establishing explicitly defined contingencies (i.e., a fast, known, and certain response) for removing barriers to flow when they occur.