The 5 'S' Process: Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, Shitsuke

The 5S Process, or simply "5S", is a structured program to systematically achieve total organization, cleanliness, and standardization in the workplace. well!organized workplace results in a sa"er, more e""icient, and more productive operation. #t $oosts the morale o" the workers, promoting a sense o" pride in their work and ownership o" their responsi$ilities.

"5S" was invented in %apan, and stands "or "ive &5' %apanese words that start with the letter 'S': Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke. Ta$le ( shows what these individual words mean. n e)uivalent set o" "ive 'S' words in *nglish have likewise $een adopted $y many, to preserve the "5S" acronym in *nglish usage. These are: Sort, Set &in place', Shine, Standardize, and Sustain. Some purists do not agree with these *nglish words ! they argue that these words have lost the essence o" the original 5 %apanese words.

Seiri

The "irst step o" the "5S" process, seiri, re"ers to the act o" throwing away all unwanted, unnecessary, and unrelated materials in the workplace. People involved in Seiri must not "eel sorry a$out having to throw away things. The idea is to ensure that everything le"t in the workplace is related to work. *ven the num$er o" necessary items in the workplace must $e kept to its a$solute minimum. +ecause o" seiri, simpli"ication o" tasks, e""ective use o" space, and care"ul purchase o" items "ollow.

Seiton

Seiton, or orderliness, is all a$out e""iciency. This step consists o" putting everything in an assigned place so that it can $e accessed or retrieved )uickly, as well as returned in that same place )uickly. #" everyone has )uick access to an item or materials, work "low $ecomes e""icient, and the worker $ecomes productive. The correct place, position, or holder "or every tool, item, or material must $e chosen care"ully in relation to how the work will $e per"ormed and who will use them. *very single item must $e allocated its

own place "or sa"ekeeping, and each location must $e la$eled "or easy identi"ication o" what it's "or.

Seiso

Seiso, the third step in "5S", says that 'everyone is a ,anitor.' Seiso consists o" cleaning up the workplace and giving it a 'shine'. -leaning must $e done $y everyone in the organization, "rom operators to managers. #t would $e a good idea to have every area o" the workplace assigned to a person or group o" persons "or cleaning. .o area should $e le"t uncleaned. *veryone should see the 'workplace' through the eyes o" a visitor ! always thinking i" it is clean enough to make a good impression.

Seiketsu

The "ourth step o" "5S", or seiketsu, more or less translates to 'standardized clean!up'. #t consists o" de"ining the standards $y which personnel must measure and maintain 'cleanliness'. Seiketsu encompasses $oth personal and environmental cleanliness. Personnel must there"ore practice 'seiketsu' starting with their personal tidiness. /isual management is an important ingredient o" seiketsu. -olor!coding and standardized coloration o" surroundings are used "or easier visual identi"ication o" anomalies in the surroundings. Personnel are trained to detect a$normalities using their "ive senses and to correct such a$normalities immediately.

Shitsuke

The last step o" "5S", Shitsuke, means '0iscipline.' #t denotes commitment to maintain orderliness and to practice the "irst 1 S as a way o" li"e. The emphasis o" shitsuke is elimination o" $ad ha$its and constant practice o" good ones. 2nce true shitsuke is achieved, personnel voluntarily o$serve cleanliness and orderliness at all times, without having to $e reminded $y management.