5S

5S is a Japanese methodology for workplace organization. As the name implies, it is a five-step technique for changing the mindsets of the staff and involving the entire organization in improvements. To some, this methodology may appear to be a housekeeping approach, but it actually delivers much more. The 5S concept was popularized by Taiichi Ohno, who designed the Toyota Production System, and Shigeo Shingo, the Japanese practitioner who put forward the concept of poka-yoke. When Japanese organizations embark on a quality journey, typically they commence with 5S deployment and then move on to higher methodologies. In the manufacturing World, 5S is used as a housekeeping tool while deploying Total 5S is an approach to quality improvement that can take an organization to new heights when implemented effectively. Simple and immensely practical, this methodology can transform the fabric of a company. [11]

The Five S’s are some rules for workplace organization which aim to organize each worker’s work area for maximum efficiency.

5S

American

Japanese

SORT

Evaluate and eliminate everything not required for the current work, keeping only the bare essentials.

Seiri

‘Say-ree’

(Organization)

Separate needed tools, parts, and instructions from unneeded materials &   instantly remove the latter unnecessary things.

SET IN ORDER (Straighten)

Arrange items in a way that they are easily visible and accessible.

Seiton

‘Say-ton’

(Tidiness)

Put things in order:  Neatly arrange and identify materials & equipment/tools for ease of use

SHINE

(Sweep)

Inspect, refine, and clean everything and find ways to keep it clean. Make this a part of our everyday work.

Seiso

‘Say-soo’

(Purity)

Conduct a cleanup campaign. Clean to original condition.  Do cleaning work positively.

STANDARDIZE

(Systematize)

Create rules and procedures by which the first 3 S’s are maintained.  Document.

Seiketsu

‘Say-kit-sue’

(Cleanliness)

Conduct the other 3Ss at frequent, in fact daily, intervals to maintain a work environment in perfect condition.  Free from bad habits.

SUSTAIN

(Self-discipline)

Keep the other 4S activities from unraveling.

Shitsuke

‘Shit-zuk-ay’

(Discipline)

Be disciplined.  Form the habit of always following the first four Ss, maintaining what has been achieved.  Be well-mannered; use polite behavior.

Table2.2.2 The 5 steps of 5S [33]

5S provides a cyclical, ongoing approach with five methodologies for organizing, cleaning, developing, and sustaining a productive work environment.  In the daily work of our organizational unit, routines that maintain organization and orderliness are essential to the smooth, efficient flow of work. This approach encourages all staff to improve their working conditions.

1)      Sort – Go through the workplace removing anything that is not needed for regular workflows, as well as excess inventories. Throw away garbage and move items that we are unsure of to a red tag area for later evaluation.

2)       Straighten (or “Set in order”) – Arrange essential things in order for easy access. The objective is to minimize the amount of motion required in order for workers to do their jobs. For example, a tool box can be used by an operator or a maintenance staff who must use various tools. In the tool box, every tool is placed at a fixed spot that the user can quickly pick it up without spending time looking for it. This way of arrangement can also help the user be immediately aware of any missing tools.

3)      Scrub (or “Shine”) – Keep machines and work areas clean so as to eliminate problems associated with un-cleanliness. In some industries, airborne dust is among the causes of poor product surface or color contamination. To be more aware of dust, some companies paint their working places in light colors and use a high level of lighting.

4)      Stabilize (or “Standardize”) – Implement daily checklists to maintain 5S. Create owners and rules to maintain the first three Ss as part of daily work.

5)      Sustain – Promote, communicate and train in the 5 S’s to ensure that it is part of the company’s corporate culture. This might include assigning a team to be responsible for supervising compliance with the 5 S’s. [30]

Why should we implement 5S?

Implementing 5S across the organization will:-

1)      Change the mindset of employees and facilitate continuous improvement.

2)       Improve the efficiency of employees and make them more productive.

3)      Eliminate time spent on non-value-added work affecting individual and workplace efficiency.

Create a robust foundation for future work in the quality arena As a matter of fact, before implementing any other quality methodology, organizations should implement and institutionalize 5S