5S: What It Is & Why It Works

Based on five Japanese words that begin with ‘S’, the 5S philosophy organizes the workplace and standardizes work procedures. Notably, 5S targets employee morale and customer satisfaction in a direct way.

What Are the 5 S’s?

Sort (Seiri) - Sorting frees up valuable floor space and eliminates the possibility of broken tools and scrap materials. Sorting both clears a desk and improves safety facility-wide.

Set In Order (Seiton) - Procedures to set in order include painting floors, defining work locations and providing easier access to storage and supplies. Orderliness saves employees time and is key to 5S.

Shine (Seiso) - Cleaning the work area creates a sense of employee ownership in your facility. In addition, clean equipment and well kept tools help sustain performance growth.

Standardize (Seiketsu) - A team must ensure what was done in the first three stages of 5S become standardized. Standard work is a basic principle of Lean manufacturing.

Sustain: (Shitsuke) Regular checks for sustained 5S adoption. It motivates a team and helps avoid a return to the convenient “old way” of doing things.

Next: Learn 5S Training from Amend Consulting, LLC