andon

andon

a Japanese term referring to call lights installed at workstations to notify management and other workers of a quality and/or process problem in production. Andons act as part of the team working and quality circles structure within the JUST-IN-TIME (JIT)SYSTEM/TOYOTA PRODUCTION SYSTEM (TPS). The light is activated by the worker at the workstation when he or she has found a problem with the work being carried out. Invariably work is stopped until a solution has been found. Andons are also considered to be a tool of the continual improvement cycle (see KAIZAN and JIDOKA) promoted by the JIT/TPS.

Collins Dictionary of Business, 3rd ed. © 2002, 2005 C Pass, B Lowes, A Pendleton, L Chadwick, D O’Reilly and M Afferson