A walk through signage at a gas pump looking for Lean. Lean elements can be found in common places, if we are willing to look.

1. Looking for Lean
at the
Gas Pump
by Tom Curtis

2. Introduction
As I was filling up my car with gas, I
began taking pictures of the signage and
messages on the pump with my phone. As
I began to look a them closer, I realized
there was a lot to see on a gas pump, some
of which ties to Lean. I have attempted to
label and describe what I saw and draw a
few lessons. Take a look and enjoy. I
would be pleased to learn of applications
you see that I have missed.
-Tom Curtis

3. 13. Identification Label
1. Safety Warnings
2. Cost Display 14. Pump Number
3. Late Differentiated Inspection label
15. Mistake Mitigation Label
4. Unit Display
5. Interaction Display 16. Visual Standard Work
6. Call Button
7. Direction 17. Direction
8. Preventive Warning
18. Label
9. Color coded Key pad
19. Pricing
10. Customized Directions
20. Direction
11. Visual Standard Work 21. Labeled Buttons
22. Visual Cue (Colored)
12. Safety Guidelines
23. Mistake Mitigation Nozzle
24. Safety Warnings
Visual Guide to a Gas Pump

4. Lean Lessons of the Pump
• Too much signage can reduce its
effectiveness
• Visual Standard Work is a good way to
get a message across
• Colors can be used for Visual Effect
• We can always try to mistake proof
• We can use tools in combination to
improve effectiveness
• There are Lean aspects around us if we
will look for them

5. Further Pictures

6. 3
1 12

7. 6, 7, & 8 10

8. 9 22

9. 11
16 & 17

10. Descriptions

11. • 1, 8, 12, 13, & 23-Safety Guidelines/
Warnings-We would expect such to be
posted based on regulatory
requirements. I was surprised by how
many there were.
• 2, 4, & 19-Measurement Displays-
Theses tell us how much. They
become more important if we are
limited by budget or filling capacity
(think 2 gallon small can).

12. • 3-Inspection Label-This does a couple
of things: one, records the last time
the Government inspected the
accuracy of the Pump, and two, serves
as a visual that it has been inspected.
I like that it allows late differentiation.
The month of the inspection punched
so the same labels can be used for a
full year.
• 5-Interactive Display-Allows question
and answer.

13. • 6-Call Button-Allows user to ask for
help or report an issue. Visual green
on black.
• 7, 10, 17, & 20-Directions-Word
driven items to be done at the pump.
10 is a Kaizen to help the flow of the
transaction.
• 9 & 22 Color Coding- The key pad has
visually coded buttons using green,
red, blue, and gray. Grade selection is
yellow to stand out verses the black.

14. • 11 & 16-Visual Standard Work-11
Shows how to work the pump. It is
large and easy to follow. It helps to
make sure that someone new to this
style pump can use it without issue.
16 Shows how to swipe a card in the
card reader. Both are good examples
of simple and effect standard work.
• 14, 18, 19, & 21-Labels-Help us
identify objects.

15. 15
• 15 & 23-Mistake Mitigation-15
Attempts to reduce non payment and
23 the nozzle is a different size than
the diesel nozzle so that diesel cannot
be put in the unleaded tank.

16. • All pictures taken by Tom Curtis May 2010
• Blog: www.onimproving.blogspot.com
• Other Presentations: Onimproving on
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