What Poka-Yoke devices do you use in IM?

[Nahar]

First: a really quick note: Before I got into IM I had been working as a general manager of a small, car replica company. At some point I got fascinated by something called "Lean Manufacturing" or "Toyota Production System" (AKA "Continuous Improvement" or "Just-In-Time"). It's a much more productive system than the old, traditional mass production one (and more humanistic - not only happier customers but happier employees as well).

Anyways, as it turns out, the Lean Philosophy is something that can be used not only in a production plant but also in hospitals, offices, even in the military. I am working on a book that explains how Lean Philosophy can be used in Internet Marketing. I wonder if you would be willing to help me out a bit (it won't take much time and could be fun).

I am currently working on a concept called "Poka-Yoke" which is a device or method that prevents people from making mistakes (the word in Japanese means mistake proofing or error proofing). Even if you haven't heard of Poka-Yoke, I guarantee you have use them many times. The classic example of such device is the good old floppy disc. It was designed in a way that prevented me and other idiots from inserting it into the drive the wrong way.

Here is another example of Poka-Yoke device:



There are Poka-Yoke devices (like the one in your microwave oven that turns the thing off when the door gets open) and there are Poka-Yoke methods. Here are some examples of P-Y methods:

My wife uses this one:



This is my invention. This way I never forget to take my cellphone with me:



Now, I wonder if you can think of any Poka-Yoke types of things that you use in your IM activities. Are there any habits that you have developed which prevent you from making mistakes? Even something as simple as a method that makes it impossible for you to miss a deadline or send an email to a wrong person. Anything.

This can be fun. Please share your thoughts. Thanks!