The 5S Method is a five-level system for the provision of safety, cleanliness and orderliness at the workplace. The term „5S“ is coming from 5 Japanese words that begin with the letter „S“.

These 5 words describe the 5 principles for the organization of the workplace:

1S – SEIRI

Cleaning: Sorting-out and get rid of all unwanted objects.

2S – SEITON

Orderliness: Clean-up and proper arrange tools needed.

3S – SEISO

Cleanliness: Maintain cleanliness at the workplace and keep the standards established through 5S workshops.

4S – SEIKETSU

Standardization: Establishing work standards developed by 5S sessions.

5S – SHITSU

Discipline: Observing compliance of new work standards and drive for continuous improvement.

Why do we need 5S?

Goals of the 5S during the implementation:

1. Safety

2. Flexibility

3. Quality

4. Costs

5. Ergonomics

How can you implement 5S at your organization?

 The 5 steps of the 5S-Method:

1. Sorting out all unnecessary objects at your workplace

2. All needed objects have to be arranged in a proper way

3. Keep your workplace clean

4. Standardize the steps 1 to 3

5. Keep your new standard or improve it even more

5S is a continuous process!

In order to maintain the 5S procedure and standard you should be implementing a routine of a so called 5S audit. The 5S audit is an instrument of sustainable implementation of the five step system for safety, cleanliness and order at your workplace.

Therefore 5S is relevant in all areas of your company, no matter if you are working in a office or your focus is on the shop floor. To maintain the 5S implementation and the ongoing improvement of all 5 steps. The audit can support you on identifying deviation and to improve.

So why do you need the 5S Method?

It supports you on

1. Reduction of uncleanliness and its causes in the company

2. Reduction of latent waste in the company (e.g. untidiness, unneeded objects)

3. Reduction of defective equipment and tooling

4. Reduction of deviations from standardized manufacturing procedures due to unnecessary objects and frequent searches for misplaced objects

5. Increasing the awareness of the employees about tidiness, cleanliness, waste and deviations from standardized manufacturing procedures

6. Enhancing the positive impression of the company towards the customer

So what are the goals when you implement 5S in your company?

1 Increase safety at the workplace

• Everything lies in its right place and employees receive a standardized and up-to-date description of their workplace

• The employees know where to find everything needed in the case of an emergency

• Markings on the floor are used as a visual control aid to help the employees to stay clear of any dangerous situations        

2 Increased capability to react

• Expeditious reaction to the requests of the customer and expediting the manufacturing process

• By involving all employees, the internal flow of communication is enhanced along with the identification and removal of mistakes

• It supports the expeditious preparation of e.g. work procedures, replacement of tools, increased flexibility of the employees, streamlines the work processes, increases the general economy by making the work procedures more effective; and expedites the continuous process of enhancement

• Mistakes and deviations from the standardized work procedures become an exception and can be quickly eliminated

This reading pick will show you the methodology as well as real doing and conducting of 5S Sessions. It is a great guidance and a step by step instruction with lots of advice and practical tools that will allow you to conduct your 5S project from A-Z.

Read more in our reading picks here.

3 Enhanced quality

• The proper arrangement of material and equipment decreases the amount of defective products and improves the repeatability of the work process

• Enables the employees to determine at first glance what is needed to do to ensure quality

• Makes the problems more perceivable and thus enables their solution

4 Cost reduction

• Shortens unnecessary searches and reduces the time needed to find objects

• Shortening time for exchange of tools > SMED

• Creating new areas

• Eliminating all unnecessary objects

• Too excessive or insufficient supplies are discovered and are made visible

• Expedient realization of counter-measures

5S designates the 5 basic principles for creating a clean, well-arranged and effective workplace with competent employees – the basis is orderliness = 5S.

5 Developing a “Visual Workplace”

• In the case of a visually created workplace the work procedures are adjusted to enable all employees to have the possibility to observe the actual work process

• Visualization:

1. Organization of the workplace

2. Manufacturing process

3. Distractions, such as defective objects, sources of danger etc.

4. Production indicators (plan, overproduction, or as the case may be, underproduction)

How can a 5S Audit support you?

• The 5S Method makes sure that each workplace, in the production or office, is organized according to the principles of cleanliness, orderliness and safety

• To secure the permanence and the continuity of adherence to the defined 5S standards it is necessary to regularly conduct 5S Audits

• For the different areas of Production or Administration and others, specific questionnaires are prepared, on basis of which the obvious deviations from the defined planned state can be detected

• The 5S questionnaires are combined with a list of counter-measures necessary to rectify the situation along with the names of responsible persons