We have already written about Poka-yoke, “a Japanese term which translates to mistake proofing, that can be any mechanism or device that helps an operator to avoid mistakes”.
Although Poka Yoke is a lean manufacturing tool coined by Shigeo Shingo in the 1960s, it is also present in our everyday lives.
Hoping to help you understand this concept, we have gathered twenty examples of error-proofing on our daily life, which can prevent us from making spelling errors or to get injured.
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1. Outlet in Sink, to prevent overflow
Many sinks have a hole on the top, right below the pipe. This hole is a protective mechanism, preventing water from overflowing if the drain is somehow blocked and/or if you forget to close the tap.
2. Household appliances, not working with an open door
You can not operate most of the household appliances, such as microwaves, dishwashers or washing machines until the door is closed. Sometimes the door is locked while the machine is working, in some other cases if you open the door, it stops working immediately.
This mechanism which prevents machines from running with an open door is an example of a control function which prevents the process from starting until the necessary conditions are met.
3. Dialysis Machines air bubble detector
Dialysis Machines perform the function of the kidneys and are usually used for patients with Chronic Kidney Disorder. It has an efficient air bubble detector which works as a safety device for the machine to operate, in order to ensure that no air bubble passes to the patient’s body.
4. Car Keys
Cars are protected with many safety measures. Usually, you are not able to remove the car keys if the transmission is in an unsafe mode. As technology keeps advancing, so does the safety mechanisms developed in order to keep the driver and passengers as safe as possible. Auto breaking, traffic alerts and radar systems, autopilots and parking sensors are some of the features that you can easily find in a car.
5. Spell checking and dictionaries
Computers and phones are usually equipped with spell-checking tools, which alert us to spelling and grammatical errors. This is probably one of the most common error-proofing systems in our everyday lives.
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6. Pen with a retractable tip
Some pens function in such a way that you cannot clip it to your pocket with the tip still out. This prevents the tip of the pen from shredding your pockets.
7. Energy activated by a key card
In some hotel rooms, energy consumption and the fact that some hotel guests forget to switch off the lights and electronics, are controlled by a key card activated time-switch placed inside the room. These switches are activated by placing your key card in a specific holder. Once you leave the room and need to take the key card with you, energy is automatically switched off.
8. USB plugs and other cables
Some cables and connectors fit into their respective slots with precision and accuracy and they can only be inserted into the right outlet, in one orientation. Some even have pins which match an exact number of holes in an exact place.
This is probably one of the most classic methods of error-proofing, since it prevents people from connecting the wrong cables, in the wrong places.
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9. Lane-keeping assist
Even though you must be paying your full attention to the street while driving, most streets have a Lane-keeping assist system. With a different texture, it works to keep you in your lane by nudging the wheels of your car as a reminder that you are getting away from your route.
10. Seatbelt pre-tensioners
Most car seatbelts retract forcefully to adjust occupants into a safer seating position, when the airbags deploy. It happens due to a seatbelt pre-tensioner, a mechanis that “uses an explosive charge to drive a concealed piston when sensors detect the signature abrupt deceleration of an accident”.
11. Treadmill safety keys
Most treadmills have a safety key for security reasons. The safety key generally clips on the walker’s clothes, stopping the treadmill if the walker slips. There are many different types of treadmill safety keys, but they all do the same: They break the power circuit, forcing the motor to stop.
12. Lawn mower safety bar on the handle
Lawn mowers can cause severe injuries or even death in case of improper use. Since 1978, lawn mowers are required to have specific safety features to prevent accidents, such as a lever, attached to the handle. To start the mower, the lever needs to be held down and once the pressure is released, the machine goes off.
13. Elevator doors
Elevator doors usually have a safety sensor that detects the presence of a person, preventing the doors from closing.
14. Leak-proof lids on mugs and water bottles
Many recipients, mugs or bottles already have a leak-prof lid that prevent your drink from spilling. The liquid only gets out of the recipient if you press a specific point of the lid.
15. Upside down sauce bottles
Some sauce bottles stand upside down. On one hand, it makes it easier for the liquid to drip until it is closer to the lid.This model of bottle lets the water out first, allowing the user to easily squeeze out the sauce.
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How Can You Use Poka Yoke in Manufacturing/Examples of Poka Yoke in Manufacturing?
Poka-Yoke is a Lean Manufacturing concept, being usually used to prevent potential errors, from processing errors (Operations which are missed or not performed), setup errors (Operations that are performed recurring to wrong tools or disadjusted machines), operation errors (Operations that are carried out incorrectly) or from using a wrong part/item or measurement.
To apply Poka-Yoke to your Manufacturing Process, your need to:
– Analyze the 5 whys and ways your operation can fail;
– Take a more extended approach of Poka-Yoke: It is not just about switches, sensors or automatic shutoff.
– Choose an approach and method ans test it to see if it works.
– Teach the operator and measure the success of the process.
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