Based on five Japanese words that begin with ‘S’, the 5S philosophy organizes the workplace and standardizes work procedures. Notably, 5S targets employee morale and customer satisfaction in a direct way.
What Are the 5 S’s?
Sort (Seiri) – Sorting frees up valuable floor space and eliminates the possibility of broken tools and scrap materials. Sorting both clears a desk and improves safety facility-wide.
Set In Order (Seiton) – Procedures to set in order include painting floors, defining work locations and providing easier access to storage and supplies. Orderliness saves employees time and is key to 5S.
Shine (Seiso) – Cleaning the work area creates a sense of employee ownership in your facility. In addition, clean equipment and well kept tools help sustain performance growth.
Standardize (Seiketsu) – A team must ensure what was done in the first three stages of 5S become standardized. Standard work is a basic principle of Lean manufacturing.
Sustain (Shitsuke) – Regular checks for sustained 5S adoption. It motivates a team and helps avoid a return to the convenient “old way” of doing things.