What is 5S?

What is 5S?

5S is the name of a workplace organization methodology that uses a list of five Japanese words. This list is a mnemonic for a methodology that is often incorrectly characterized as "standardized cleanup", however it is much more than cleanup. 5S is a philosophy and a way of organizing and managing the workspace and 5S is an item in the vital daily management/control that is for aimed at showing/revealing the wastes and abnormalities in the site. 

the 5S Approach

The manager task is to check the achievement of 5S implementation, through 5S, it can grasp the actual condition, make the appropriate instructions to the subordinates regarding the issues that pose as obstacles, and operate the site in such a way that the management/control cycle (P-D-C-A) goes around. Therefore, there should always voluntarily a person to go round the site. Abnormality and the waste are caught exactly, moreover, do talk with the worker about where it is the cause, and daily control is important

There are activities process in 5S, which is divided by 3S and then follow up to maintain the first 3S with

next 2S, those are:

1. Seiri, Sorting or clearing up, Sorting parts corresponds to the principles of JIT,                           “…only what is needed, in the amounts necessary,  as they are required…”                                            Clearing up any things which do not corresponding to the production.                                            The keyword is “when in doubt, throw it out”
2. Seiton,
   Set in Order or 
   Organizing, make “3 Fix” implementation (fix items, fix location, fix quantity), deciding appropriate locations and standard stock, visualization layout etc.                      The Implementation of Seiton using Three Fix:
   1. Where (fixed position)
   2. What (fixed items)
   3. How many (fixed quantity)
   .Once SEIRI is complete, SEITON ensures that the items necessary for current production are:            
   • Optimised in positions / order for current production
   • Labelled correctly and clearly so anyone can use the area
   • Standardisation becomes the norm, with 
   • Visual controls inform staff of standard procedures, item areas and volumes, WIP status etc.      
   The keyword is “Don’t accept out of Standard” 
3. Seiso or Shine Cleaning, Cleaning workplace by hand (not machine), self cleaning (not by outsourcing).                                                                                                                                 The keyword is “Clean by yourselves with your hand everyday”.                                                      In order to maintain those 3 activities, it need to go through the next step:
4. Seiketsu or Standardizing, setup procedure, monitoring the result by patrol.                                 By maintaining the gains made from Seiri, Seiton and Seiso, we have effectively standardised them. The main goal is:                                                                                                                             ---To avoid going back to the bad old days by ensuring that daily activities are sufficient to maintain status quo.                                                                                                                               -Effectively turn the first 3Ss into a habit                                                                                            -In order to get to 5S, the 3S duties need to be integrated into normal daily duties.                Otherwise 3S duties will only be carried out as 3S conditions are seen to be slipping. Supervisors have to ensure that Visual 5S and Five-Minute 5S  actions are undertaken by staff and that the necessary equipment, time and any required resources are available to perform those duties.
5. Shitsuke or Standardizing, it's discipline: Refers to maintaining and reviewing standards. Once the new procedures have been established, maintain them to work and do not allow a gradual decline back to the old system. However, when an issue arises such as a suggested improvement, then a review of the first 4S's is appropriate.