5S

TITLE

PURPOSE

5S is a defined visual simple method for maintaining the workplace in the optimum condition and eliminate waste
PROCEDURE / EXPLANATION / STAGES or CALCULATION

What it is

5S is a tool for creating and maintaining a highly

organised workplace that, in turn, helps create a
safer, more productive working environment.
The term 5S refers to five Japanese words that
originally identified the 5 stages of the tool

How to use it

1- Sort (seiri): clear out all unnecessary items

- Define the frequency of utilisation, urgency, quantity needed for every item.
- Separate the necessary from the unnecessary items.
- Eliminate the unnecessary items
At the end of the phase, all remaining objects have been identified and their utilisation understood by everyone.
2- Straighten (seiton): a place for everything and everything in its place

Benefits of 5S

People:

-Using visual management to identify proper location, designate a place for every necessary item so that all
unnecessary motion, effort or loss of time are eliminated.
-The criteria for storing can be size, weight, frequency of use and close to the point of use.

increased safety
improved work environment
increased ownership and sense of
pride
easier maintenance
Quality:
greater visibility of errors
standardised work
Performance:
reduced set-up time
increased productivity
less breakdowns

At the end of that phase, all necessary objects should be identified and stored. It is important to communicate at this
point to make sure all involved person will be able to find and store back the items in their new defined location.
3- Sanitise (seiso): Keeping the work area clean and tidy
-This phase is also called cleaning-inspection as it is more than a simple cleaning of the area.
-It highlights potential problems by allowing to detect premature wears, leaks, loose fixings, wrong setting, etc.
before the actual problem occurs in a production environment. Examples in an office environment can be a
cupboard full of documents not updated or an archive system where nothing is in its place.
At the end of this phase, the area should have been cleaned and inspected, the root causes of all
abnormalities/contamination highlighted and a solution proposed for each of them.
4- Standardise (seiketsu): Define the work standards
-This step is about creating the new standard for both organising and maintaining the workplace in the way the team
wants to follow after improvement
At the end of this phase, the standards should be defined for the area and the training done for everyone

When to use

Should be used:
-when there is an identified business
need.
-when the benefits of improved
workplace
organisation are quantified

5- Sustain (shitsuke): Implement systems to monitor 5S so that is becomes part of the culture
-This last step is about to ensure sustainability of the improvement. The standard being defined, the team needs to
build an audit grid, and an auditing system (frequency, responsibility, corrective action management) to embed the
improvement.
-To help changing the mind sets and behaviours, involve all level of organisation in the activity.
-Use visual systems to regularly report on the status of audits and incorporate audits into overall performancemonitoring systems.

Very useful to start with in an environment where

it is difficult to identify hidden waste.
PROS

+ Make workplace management obvious (visual)

+ Free up minds for actual problem solving
+ Enforce good behaviours
CONS
- Too often erroneously considered to be a housekeeping activity.
- Not going until completion can lead to strong de-motivation.

Implementation
Should be applied narrow and deep. Choose a small area, apply all 5 steps before
moving to the next area
Make sure each step is completed before starting the next one
Do this as a team as everyones work will be impacted in the defined area
Can be very useful in non production environment

Process Excellence

RELATED TOPICS
Visual Management
Standardised work chart
Standardised work sheet
Work instruction chart