5S HOUSEKEEPING SYSTEM

The Practice of
Good Housekeeping

By
P.Vidhyadharan CBRE
WHAT ARE THE 5 STEPS?

STEP 1 - SORT
 Train people to follow good housekeeping disciplines independently and

monitor performance to ensure that standards are maintained.

 STEP 2 – STORE

Get rid of unnecessary items.

 STEP 3 - SHINE

A place for everything and everything in its place.

Clean your workplace and equipment.
 STEP 4 - STANDARDISE

Set standards for housekeeping.

 STEP 5 - SUSTAIN

Train people to follow good housekeeping disciplines independently and

monitor performance to ensure that standards are maintained
STEP 1 - SORT
 “Get rid of unnecessary items”.

 Look around your workplace. Are things lying around which are not
of any use any more ?
 Examples may be excess materials, old equipment, tools which are
no longer used, empty containers, old furniture, etc.
 Only keep necessary items at machines. Store other items until they
are needed and get rid of unnecessary items.
 Now that the area is clear of unnecessary items it can be more easily
cleaned.
STEP 2 - STORE
 “A place for everything and everything in its place”.
 Look at the way things are arranged in your workplace. Are
they arranged according to a certain system or are they just
left all over the place ?
 Arrange necessary items in a proper order so that they can
easily be picked up for use.
 In deciding where to put things, you have to consider how
often the things are used and where they are most often used.
 Once decided, areas should be identified to show what goes
where by using signs, floor markings, etc.
STEP 3 - SHINE
 “Clean your workplace and equipment”.
 Once the workplace/equipment has been cleaned, maintain it in a
clean condition by:
 Continuous cleaning.
 Not waiting until things get really dirty.
 Not walking past rubbish, pick it up.
 If you make a mess, clean it up as soon as possible. Do Not wait
until the end of the shift or leave it for the next Person or assume
that someone else will clean it up.
 Ensuring that ledges, cabinets, etc. are kept clean and that things are
not stored on the tops of them.
 Taking pride in your workplace and not letting Someone else mess it
up.
STEP 4 - STANDARDISE
 “Set standards for housekeeping”.
 Create a maintenance system for housekeeping by putting together
daily and periodic cleaning schedules.
 Clearly define housekeeping responsibilities Who, What, Where,
When.
 Develop cleaning methods and checklists.
 Use appropriate cleaning equipment.
 Use before and after photographs
 to define housekeeping standards.
 Set cleaning targets.
 Continuously look for ways to
 improve standards.
STEP 5 - SUSTAIN
 “Train people to follow good housekeeping
disciplines independently and monitor performance to ensure that
standards are maintained”.
 Management should train its staff and try to develop a culture within the
company whereby good
 housekeeping becomes everybody’s habit.
 Training must include awareness training as to why good housekeeping is
so important.
 Use regular housekeeping inspections and take action to improve
performance.
 Look for ways to make housekeeping easier eg. Are things on the floor that
could be stored above the floor,
 are there gaps under machines that trap rubbish that could be sealed, etc. ?
 Find the sources of dirt and debris and eliminate them.
Employee Involvement
 Employees can help by:
 remembering the value of their own housekeeping efforts.

 treating the workplace as their second home ie. making sure that it is
clean, safe and comfortable.

 being aware of their own attitudes and habits.

 becoming members of housekeeping teams responsible for communal

areas.

 Identifying ways to make housekeeping easier.

THE PRACTICE OF GOOD
HOUSEKEEPING
 Many people think that housekeeping should be done by
housewives at home, and cleaners at work.

 They do not realize that they, too, play an important part in keeping
their houses/workplaces clean.

 More importantly, they do not know how much they can gain for
themselves by just practicing good housekeeping.

 Whether you work in an office, the factory, the warehouse, the

laboratory or any other place, housekeeping is relevant to you.
WHAT CAN WE GAIN FROM 5S ?
 5S makes the workplace more pleasant
 5S helps in work efficiency
 5S and safety go hand in hand
 5S creates a more hygienic environment
 5S reduces the risk of contamination
 5S reduces the risk of foreign matter in products
 5S reduces harbourage points for pests