5S is a workplace organization method that can be of immense use to you since there is no better way of making the workplace efficient and effective. There is no doubt a great deal of confusion regarding it and many people even consider it to have more nuisance value than actual effectiveness. However, if this method is understood properly and implemented without reservation then your company will benefit greatly from it.
The five principles from which the term 5S is derived include:
- Sorting (Seiri): This involves the removal of all tools, parts and processes that are not necessary for the company to do its work. All superfluous things are to be discarded because they add no value to the work process.
- Stabilizing or Straightening Out (Seiton): All remaining tools, parts and processes should have a clear purpose and they should be in the correct place or position. This enables work flow to be efficient. If tools are placed close to where they are required then workers will not have to spend a lot of effort to locate or use them.
- Sweeping or Shining (Seiso): The entire workplace should always be kept spick and span. Tools should also be cleaned and returned to their places as soon as their use is over. It is very easy to spot damaged tools in such a clean and tidy environment.
- Standardizing (Seiketsu): Work practices for a particular job ought to be identical across various work stations. Therefore, employees will be able to work in any station that has the same tools they are used to using.
- Sustaining the Practice (Shitsuke): All workplace changes should be reviewed often in order to ensure that old practices have not crept in again. Positive change is not always easy to keep and people might revert to old habits.
Since 5S places a great deal of importance on cleanliness and tidiness, most people believe that this is just a method for employers to get them to keep the workplace tidy. It is therefore very important for you as the head of your organization or a person in charge of increasing productivity to motivate employees to adopt these work principles.
If everyone in the organization can adopt the principles of 5S willingly then they will have a lot more pride in their work. People will realize that work gets done faster and also that the workplace becomes a safer and more pleasant place to be in.
The five principles from which the term 5S is derived include:
- Sorting (Seiri): This involves the removal of all tools, parts and processes that are not necessary for the company to do its work. All superfluous things are to be discarded because they add no value to the work process.
- Stabilizing or Straightening Out (Seiton): All remaining tools, parts and processes should have a clear purpose and they should be in the correct place or position. This enables work flow to be efficient. If tools are placed close to where they are required then workers will not have to spend a lot of effort to locate or use them.
- Sweeping or Shining (Seiso): The entire workplace should always be kept spick and span. Tools should also be cleaned and returned to their places as soon as their use is over. It is very easy to spot damaged tools in such a clean and tidy environment.
- Standardizing (Seiketsu): Work practices for a particular job ought to be identical across various work stations. Therefore, employees will be able to work in any station that has the same tools they are used to using.
- Sustaining the Practice (Shitsuke): All workplace changes should be reviewed often in order to ensure that old practices have not crept in again. Positive change is not always easy to keep and people might revert to old habits.
Since 5S places a great deal of importance on cleanliness and tidiness, most people believe that this is just a method for employers to get them to keep the workplace tidy. It is therefore very important for you as the head of your organization or a person in charge of increasing productivity to motivate employees to adopt these work principles.
If everyone in the organization can adopt the principles of 5S willingly then they will have a lot more pride in their work. People will realize that work gets done faster and also that the workplace becomes a safer and more pleasant place to be in.