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Obeya: How to improve your Short Interval Management (SIM)

SIM and Obeya: Definition and benefits for your organization
The Fundamentals of Short Interval Management (SIM) Explained
How does Obeya maximize the effectiveness of SIM?
Case study: Integration of Obeya and SQCDP in industry

SIM and Obeya: Definition and benefits for your organization

As a reminder, Short-Interval Management (SIM), is key to effectively managing the performance of a process or project. It is based on short, structured meetings, held regularly, which enable identified problems to be rapidly escalated and corrective actions defined.
In parallel, the Obeya, which means “big room” in Japanese, is a centralized visual space to coordinate actions and decisions in a collaborative environment.
In this article, we’ll look at how the combination of SIM & Obeya boosts efficiency by making exchanges more structured and facilitating access to critical information.

The Fundamentals of Short Interval Management (SIM) Explained

The 3 essential pillars for successful SIM

First and foremost, it’s important to respect these 3 “pillars” to ensure the success of your SIMs.

Short, frequent meetings:
A visual chart:
An operating standard :

These three pillars are inseparable and form the indispensable foundations for the success of SIM.

SIM: Why short and frequent animations are essential

To be effective, an SIM must be organized on a regular basis. As a reminder, these can be organized as follows:

SIM 0: hourly or shift review, lasting 10 or 15 minutes maximum, bringing together operators and their team leader, with the aim of reporting problems encountered during production
SIM 1: daily review involving team leaders and the workshop manager.
SIM 2: daily or weekly review involving the production manager and the various sector managers.
SIM 3: Overall performance review for management, covering all sectors

These events enable information to be passed rapidly up the hierarchy.

See our article: Short Interval Animations: Impactful Lean Method for a detailed explanation of these levels.

The visual panel

An effective visual display board should contain:
My advice is to integrate two tables:

A first SQDCP table
- Key objectives to be monitored (quality, safety, productivity)
- Tracking of each letter of the SQDCP:
  - Safety: Incidents, risk areas.
  - Quality: Defects, customer feedback.
  - Cost: unforeseen expenses, budget variances.
  - Deadlines: Delays, bottlenecks.
  - People: Absences, training.
- Indicator tracking (via graphs or tables).
A second table for tracking problems and associated actions: I recommend the following columns:
- KPIs/SQDCP letter
- Problem identification date
- Problem description
- Associated action plan
- Person responsible for action
- Resolution time

You can also integrate other panels such as :

Kanban: to visualize ongoing, completed or blocked workflows.
PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act): To structure continuous improvement actions.
5 Whys: To identify the root causes of problems encountered.
Ishikawa : To map the potential causes of a problem.

SIM: Why an operating standard is essential

The standard is essential for structuring SIMs. It specifies:

The role of the moderator,
List of participants,
Frequency and duration of meetings,
Rules for organizing and updating visual charts.

It guarantees consistency in how meetings are conducted and ensures constant team commitment.

How does Obeya maximize the effectiveness of SIM?

Obeya: Definition and Role in Project Management

Obeya is a collaborative space designed to centralize strategic and operational information. It combines:

Visualization of key data (indicators, issues, actions),
Close collaboration between team members and different hierarchical levels.

Combined with SIM, Obeya becomes a strategic tool to be the visual management board to improve animation efficiency and facilitate problem solving.

The benefits of Obeya for SIM

Improved communication :
Access to real-time information:
Collaboration between different hierarchical levels:
Strengthening commitment and continuous improvement:

Case study: Integration of Obeya and SQCDP in industry

In an automotive plant, integrating the SQCDP table into an Obeya can transform operational performance management. Here’s how the table can be used to address common problems and improve results:

Step 1: Identify production deviations linked to quality problems

During SIM 0 (hourly reviews with operators), an abnormal increase in the scrap rate is detected on an assembly line.
A quality discrepancy is identified: plastic parts have a poor fit, resulting in a rejection rate 5% higher than the usual average.
Action in Obeya:

The SQCDP table, displayed in the Obeya, highlights the anomaly thanks to a clear visualization in the “Quality” column. Teams quickly analyze the problem using tools such as the Ishikawa diagram or the 5 Whys to identify the root cause: a variation in the temperature of a plastic injection machine.
Immediate corrective action is decided: adjust the temperature and revise the operating standard.
An expected result is also identified: reduced rejects and improved line output.

Step 2: Define corrective actions to reduce downtime (safety)

During an SIM 1 (daily review between team leaders and production managers), a minor incident is reported: an operator has tripped over a misplaced cable. This type of incident disrupts production flow and increases machine downtime.
Action in Obeya:

The SQCDP table displays this information in the “Safety” column.
Managers identify this problem as a risk of recurrence. An immediate solution is decided: install cable trays to secure passage areas

Step 3: Improve performance by monitoring delivery times

During an SIM 2 (weekly review with the production manager and area managers), a delay in the delivery of certain batches is detected, threatening commitments to the customer. On analyzing the situation, the team realized that buffer stock management was inadequate, causing interruptions in the production flow.
Action in Obeya:

The SQCDP table displays this delay in the “Delays” column.
Logistics and production teams work together to :
- Adjust buffer stock levels,
- Optimize supply planning,
- temporarily reorganize teams to compensate for delays.
The actions decided upon are listed in the “Action Plan” column of the visual chart, and followed up at the next SIM by setting an expected result or KPI to monitor.

Step 4: Coordination between hierarchical levels via Obeya

By integrating the SQCDP table into a digital Obeya, each hierarchical level has a consolidated view of performance:

Operators report problems detected at SIM 0 level,
Team leaders escalate complex issues at SIM 1 level,
Production managers coordinate strategic responses to identified problems.

This centralized approach makes it possible to:

Make information accessible at all levels,
Align priorities between teams,
Ensure rigorous monitoring of actions taken to resolve problems.

The integration of Obeya into Short Interval Management (SIM) enhances the efficiency of these processes. By combining the fundamental principles of SIM (frequent animations, visual boards and standardization) with the advantages of Obeya (centralized collaboration and data visualization), companies can achieve high levels of performance and responsiveness.
Modern tools like iObeya enable these practices to be digitized, offering real-time access to data, better team coordination and rigorous tracking of actions. By adopting this approach, companies foster team cohesion and make continuous progress towards operational excellence.

Lean Corner