“A place for everything and everything in its place”
- Vivek Mishra (Amrit Arjan)
What is 5 ‘S’?
5 ‘S’ is defined as a methodology that results in a workplace that is clean, uncluttered, safe, and well-organized to help reduce waste and optimize productivity. The 5 ‘S’ methodology can be summarized by the philosophy, “a place for everything and everything in its place.” It’s designed to help build a quality work environment, both physically and mentally. The 5 ‘S’ philosophy applies in any work area suited for visual control and lean production. The 5 ‘S’ condition of a work area is critical to employees and is the basis of customers’ first impressions.
5 ‘S’ is a system for organizing spaces so work can be performed efficiently, effectively, and safely. This system concentrates on putting everything where it belongs and maintaining the workplace clean, which makes it more manageable for people to do their jobs without wasting time or risking injury.
The 5 ‘S’ quality tool is derived from five Japanese terms beginning with the letter “S” used to build a workplace suited for visual control and lean production. The pillars of 5S are easy to learn and important to implement:
- Sort (Seiri): To separate needed tools, parts, and instructions from unneeded materials and to remove the unneeded ones.
- Set in Order (Seiton): To neatly arrange and identify parts and tools for ease of use.
- Shine (Seiso): To conduct a cleanup campaign.
- Standardize (Seiketsu): To conduct seiri, seiton, and seiso daily to maintain a workplace in perfect condition.
- Sustain (Shitsuke): To form the habit of always following the first four S’s.
Benefits of 5 ‘S’:
- Higher equipment availability
- Lower defect rates
- Better asset utilization
- Enhanced enterprise image to customers, suppliers, employees, and management
- Reduced costs
- Higher quality
- Increased productivity
- Greater employee satisfaction
- A safer work environment
