Lean 5S Products

Traditional Pegboards vs Printed Shadow boards? Who wins? You decide.

Shadow boards and peg boards are frequently used both personally and professionally. They help to keep the workplace organised and all of your tools together so that you can locate them easily. When it comes to purchasing either a shadow board or a peg board, people often find themselves stopping to wonder which is best. After all, they both offer organisation benefits to a workplace. This article aims to take you through each product, as well as the advantages they could have for your workplace – helping you to decide which is right for you.

Origins of the Peg Board and Shadow Board

The traditional pegboard is a wooden board with holes in it where pegs can be placed so that tools can be hung from them. It is believed that the board was invented in 1897 by a medical doctor who sought to keep his instruments separated to prevent the spread of leprosy among his patients. Since then, it has been further used for work tools such as hammers and spanners, and can be made from any hardboard, ranging from wood to metal. The shadow board was created with the concept of lean manufacturing in mind, something that sought to reduce the amount of waste created and increase company efficiency. The idea of lean manufacturing was thought of by Toyota, and the shadow board clearly implements this. The shadow board features a large piece of hardboard with the silhouette of the appropriate tools printed on the front. A clip is attached so that the tool can sit securely on it. They are incredibly popular in workplaces.

Advantages of the Peg Board

Typically, peg boards are more suited for gardening at home and other small projects, as they are not as efficient at organising the workplace. However, there are some great new steel option available that incorporate a colour coding system so that you can better organise your tools. Unfortunately, from a professional viewpoint, there are not many advantages to using the traditional peg board. If anything, they can be confusing and cause slower production if not used with a colour coding system.

Advantages of the Shadow Board

The shadow board has some great benefits. For one, it is less wasteful in terms of the manufacturing process, but also in terms of time as less of it is spent looking for the correct tool thanks to the shadows. They are also very inexpensive, and so quite cost effective for companies who are looking to provide organisation on a budget. They come in a wide variety of sizes and for many different sectors, everything from cleaning to construction. You can even order ones that are custom made for the ultimate level of organisation. You are sure to see improved productivity and morale with this organisation system.

To Conclude

The shadow board is the best way to keep your workplace organised. While the option for the traditional peg board remains, unless you are using a colour coded system it is more likely to hurt the eyes of employees as opposed to keep them motivated. The shadow board assures maximum organisation which, in turn, boosts productivity and morale. The shadow board is a clear winner in this case. Call us on 310-955-7472 if would like to discuss your customized shadow boards