About 5S

The 5S approach focuses on reducing clutter.

The 5S, or “five S”, methodology is a management approach that focuses on transforming a workplace to support efficiency and promoting a culture of order. Five S is short for five basic Japanese terms: Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu and Shitsuke. The basic concept behind the 5S methodology is organization and workplace discipline: a well-organized environment reduces physical clutter, which directly translates into reducing mental clutter.

5S Terms and their Descriptions

Seiri (sort) means to distinguish and separate useful, necessary items (files, equipment, tools, furniture and so on) from the unneeded, unnecessary items.

Seiton (set in order) means to neatly arrange all necessary items and organize them based on their frequency of use.

Seiso (sweep and shine) means to perform daily cleaning and routine maintenance of a work area and all its associated equipment and tools. It also relates to performing assigned tasks with attention to detail--no matter the department.

Seiketsu (standardize) means to standardize all best methods and processes and to share them with coworkers. Standardization serves as the baseline for additional improvement and functions to minimize deviations.

Shitsuke (sustain) means to apply and maintain the 5S methodology to support continuous improvement.

Time Wasters

The 5S methodology is designed to reduce time wastage. According to Anand A. Samuel and L. Suganthi in the book “Total Quality Management,” common time wasters include open door, procrastination, indecision, an over-conscious approach, lack of discipline, phone calls, lack of priorities, poor filing and visitors. These, and other time wasters, lead to hours of wasted time and can seriously affect the productivity of a company.

Purpose of 5S

According to Peter Plenkiewicz in the book “The Executive Guide to Business Process Management,” the primary purpose of the 5S model is to create an orderly and clean workspace that exposes all errors and waste in an effort to uncover problems and increase efficiency. The model allows employees to effectively control their environment, reduce time spent in looking for documentation and tools. The 5S functions to eliminate inefficiencies, reduce waste and improve processes by cutting down idle time.

5S Implementation

The 5S methodology must be implemented by senior management in an effort to maximize the effectiveness derived from it. Once it is decided to adopt the 5S approach of doing things, the decision has to be conveyed to the entire staff. Employees must be trained on the core concepts and principles of 5S; what each “S” pertains to; and what benefits (collective and individual) can be derived from its successful implementation. Finally, a well-devised action plan must be detailed which will analyze the present working conditions, set clear goals and determine the time allocated to the process.

5S Benefits

According to Plenkiewicz, the 5S model directly improves productivity, morale, performance and reduces costs.

According to Clifford Fiore in the book “Accelerated Product Development,” 5S methodology fosters a cleaner work environment which translates into increased credibility with visitors, suppliers and customers.

References

• "Total Quality Management"; Anand A. Samuel and L. Suganthi; 2004
• “The Executive Guide to Business Process Management"; Peter Plenkiewicz; 2010
• "Accelerated Product Development"; Clifford Fiore; 2005