The 5S System
The 5S system is designed for organization and standardization of any workplace, including offices. It is a pre-requisite to the implementation of any other improvement method. By implementing 5S, you will:
- Teach everyone the basic principles of improvement
- Provide a starting place for eliminating all waste
- Remove many obstacles to improvement (with very little cost)
- Give workers control over their workplace
The 5S system consists of five activities:
Sort - sorting through the contents of an area and removing unnecessary items.
Set in Order - arranging necessary items for easy and efficient access, and keeping them that way
Shine - cleaning everything, keeping it clean, and using cleaning as a way to ensure that your area and equipment is maintained as it should be.
Standardize - creating guidelines for keeping the area organized, orderly, and clean, and making the standards visual and obvious.
Sustain - educating and communicating to ensure that everyone follows the 5S standards.
Although 5S activities seem like "good things to do," they aren't carried out for that reason. The 5S system is not merely housekeeping. It will have a positive impact on performance that will be reflected in the following metrics:
- Reduced total lead time
- Elimination of accidents
- Shorter changeover times
- Improved worker attendance
- Value-added activities
- More improvement ideas per worker