Improvement of Manufacturing Industry Work Environment Using Signage: Root Industry

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Korea are faced with developments and improvements due to the 4th Industrial Revolution. Adopting new technologies into the enterprise and improving safety in the factory were the main issues for all SMEs in Korea. For that working environment would play the most important role in the industry. In this study, the ‘working environment improvement model’ based on signage was applied to SMEs (root enterprises), and its usability was evaluated. The evaluation index consisted of five categories: ‘Visualization (number, color, compartment),’ ‘5S (sort, set in order, shine, standardize, sustain),’ ‘Safety (fire, hazard/hazardous substance, health and facility, electricity, safety (education)),’ ‘Management system (production, quality, logistics, safety/environment (cognition)),’ and ‘Leadership & Strategy (management's will and strategy).’ Six enterprises in four different root industries were evaluated based on the evaluation index by applying the working environment improvement model. They assessed the satisfaction of the model (before and after). Satisfaction increased across all indicators, and the need and usability of the workplace improvement model were positive, but there were also some limitations in its application.