Understanding 5S in the Workplace

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5S is a very popular way that companies can improve the way that things are organized in the workplace. The goal is to improve efficiency, eliminate waste, and generally benefit the way that things are run. 5S is most commonly used in manufacturing and warehousing organizations, but it can provide real benefits in just about any industry. Understanding the concepts behind 5S will help your organization to recognize the benefits it can provide and implement it successfully.

What Are the 5 S’s?

The first thing to understand about this methodology is what the five “S’s” in the name stand for. The name comes from the fact that there are five main categories where improvements can be made. The names come from the Japanese language where the concepts were developed, but when translating them into English, words that start with S were used to remain consistent. The concepts are as follows:

  • Sort – Any items that aren’t required for performing business tasks should be removed from the area. Getting rid of unnecessary items helps to eliminate clutter so that everything else can be properly accessed.
  • Set – Setting things in order means to make sure that each item that is kept in the workplace has a specific location where it is kept. This will minimize the risk of something getting lost or stolen, and also makes sure that objects aren’t damaged because they aren’t stored properly.
  • Shine – Keeping tools, equipment, and the entire facility in good working order will help to avoid many problems. Tasks associated with this item include things like performing regular maintenance, cleaning, and repairing items as needed.
  • Standardize – Putting standards in place that everyone has to follow in the workplace is important. Defining ownership of various assets and processes will help to keep things flowing the way that they should.
  • Sustain – Sustaining all the changes that are made in the previous steps can be difficult, which is why it warrants its own item. Making sure that things continue to run as they should in the workplace will make it so things don’t slowly slip back to the way they were prior to implementing 5S.

In addition to these five, some people will include ‘Safety’ which is considered a sixth S. When this is included the system is either called 6S or 5S + Safety or something similar. Regardless of what it is called, adding a focus on safety can be very beneficial to the workplace as a whole.

5S Checklists

Following the standards identified in the 5S methodology can be a challenge. Understanding the concepts behind each of the S’s is an important first step but putting it into practice is just as essential. Having 5S checklists is a great way to find things that are not in compliance with 5S and take steps to fix them. A 5S checklist is a helpful way to audit a facility and make improvements where needed.

Someone can take a checklist that includes the various 5S items and walk through an area of the facility. They will then identify anything that is not 5S compliant and make a note of it so that it can be fixed or improved later. When performing a 5S audit it is necessary to take a close look at every step of each process and procedure to ensure all problems are solved. Going through these steps on a regular basis will not only help to facilitate continuous improvement but will also serve as an important way to sustain improvements as they are made.

Benefits of Implementing 5S

When deciding if you want to follow 5S standards in your facility, one of the most important things to consider is what type of benefits you will receive by following these processes. Many of the benefits will be quite obvious such as having a cleaner workplace, reducing defects, and keeping machines operating efficiently. There are many other benefits to 5S in factories and other industries that may not be readily apparent.

For example, a company that uses 5S strategies properly will find that their productivity can go up quite significantly. This increase in productivity is facilitated by the fact that many of the things that were slowing people and systems down have been eliminated or properly managed to allow things to get done. Another major benefit is a reduction in overall waste created by the facility. By improving the way things are done, there will be fewer defects and a more efficient use of resources. Finally, one of the most often overlooked advantages to 5S is the improvement to employee engagement and commitment. 5S helps to empower employees to make improvements to the way things are done, which not only benefits the company but also makes their work easier.

In the end, 5S is a great option for any company that is looking to improve the way things are done. It is relatively easy and inexpensive to implement, and if followed for a long period of time, it can ensure the company remains competitive long into the future.

Additional Resources

Related posts:

  1. 5S Audit Checklist for the Factory
  2. Setting up an Effective 5S System
  3. 5S: Commit to the Process
  4. Tools for Each S in 5S
  5. Incorporate the 5S Steps into the Business
  6. Decluttering Your Workspace With 5S
  7. Global 5S Management
  8. The Path to a 5S Behavior Change
  9. What are 5S Red Tags?