5’s Lesson

Table Contents

• Definition
• Introduction
• What Are the 5 S's?
• Benefits of 5S
• 5S Training
• Conclusion

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Definition

5S is a system for organizing spaces so work can be performed efficiently, effectively, and safely.

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Introduction

In English, these words are often translated to:

• Sort
• Set in Order
• Shine
• Standardize
• Sustain

Each S represents one part of a five-step process that can improve the overall function of a business.

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What Are the 5 S's?

• The 5S concept might sound a little abstract at this point, but in reality, it's a very practical, hands-on tool that everyone in the workplace can be a part of.
• 5S involves assessing everything present in a space, removing what's unnecessary, organizing things logically, performing housekeeping tasks, and keeping this cycle going. Organize, clean, repeat.

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What Are the 5 S's?

Sort

• The first step of 5S, Sort, involves going through all the tools, furniture, materials, equipment, etc. in a work area to determine what needs to be present and what can be removed.

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What Are the 5 S's?

Set in Order

• Once the extra clutter is gone, it's easier to see what's what. Now work groups can come up with their strategies for sorting through the remaining items.
• During this phase, everyone should determine what arrangements are most logical.

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What Are the 5 S's?

Shine

• Everyone thinks they know what housekeeping is, but it's one of the easiest things to overlook, especially when work gets busy.
• The Shine stage of 5S focuses on cleaning up the work area, which means sweeping, mopping, dusting, wiping down surfaces, putting tools and materials away, etc.

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What Are the 5 S's?

Standardize

• Once the first three steps of 5S are completed, things should look pretty good.
• All the extra stuff is gone, everything is organized, spaces are cleaned, and equipment is in good working order.
• The problem is, when 5S is new at a company, it's easy to clean and get organized

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What Are the 5 S's?

Sustain

• Once standard procedures for 5S are in place, businesses must perform the ongoing work of maintaining those procedures and updating them as necessary.
• Sustain refers to the process of keeping 5S running smoothly, but also of keeping everyone in the organization involved.

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What Are the 5 S's?

Safety

• Some companies like to include a sixth S in their 5S program: Safety. When safety is included, the system is often called 6S.
• The Safety step involves focusing on what can be done to eliminate risks in work processes by arranging things in certain ways.

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Benefits of 5S

Over time, the 5S methodology leads to many benefits, including:

• Reduced costs
• Higher quality
• Increased productivity
• Greater employee satisfaction
• A safer work environment

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5S Training

• Anyone who will participate in 5S activities needs to receive training. This could be done in a classroom setting, with a training DVD, and/or through hands-on activities.
• A demonstration of how 5S could occur at a workstation might also be useful.

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5S Training

• It's quite possible that the way 5S is carried out at one organization or even one department will be different from others, so groups performing 5S for the first time may need to work out the best way to perform the steps of 5S in their spaces.

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5S Training

• For employees to understand why the company is going to start using 5S and why it's important, they should be given a brief history of 5S, its parts, and its benefits.

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Conclusion

• 5S is a systematic way of organizing workplaces by eliminating waste, improving flow, and reducing the number of processes where possible.
• It applies the five principles: Sort (seiri), Set in order (seiton), Shine (seiso), Standardize (seiketsu), and Sustain (shitsuke).

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