What is 5S and How Should We Implement It?

5S is, in the simplest terms, a method of creating, maintaining and improving a workplace which is clean, orderly, and has methods for detecting waste and errors built in. When used properly, it will help to identify areas where things are being done inefficiently, and come up with solutions for improvement. It will help to take existing processes, and standardize them so they are always done in the most efficient way possible. The 5S process can …

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Connection Between 5S and Lean

In order to have a good understanding how 5S and lean concepts are connected, is important to first take a look at them separately. 5S is a way of measuring the implementation of lean manufacturing techniques. It is the foundation which is used to support lean manufacturing strategies from the beginning until full implementation. Lean manufacturing, on the other hand, is a set of ideas used to describe the ideal way to streamline the production and …

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5S Benefits for Students

Over the past several years the lean concepts which started out only in manufacturing have been used to improve just about every other industry. These strategies, however, can also be used to benefit students of just about every age. Look at these powerful benefits students can gain from learning about the 5S strategies which have become so popular in the business and manufacturing world. Organization Millions of students at every level suffer due to poor organizational skills. …

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5S and 6S

The traditional 5 “S’s” of 5s are Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardize and Sustain.  Facilities around the world have been following the 5S standards for years with incredible successes.  Some companies today, however, want to add in another S to try to further improve on this already very popular set of standards.  The sixth S is for safety which most people would agree is always of utmost importance in any type of facility today. Those who …

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5S and Lean

When investigating ways to help your business run more efficiently and safely almost everyone has come across the terms 5s and lean, and in many cases they are even thought of as somewhat interchangeable.  The fact is, however, that they have different meanings even if they are used in combination with each other when evaluating the way a business runs.  The 5s standard is primarily used in manufacturing facilities to help improve efficiency and safety in …

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5S – It Sounds so Easy

Whether you’ve attended a Lean manufacturing class, read a book or just found information about the 5s process online you likely got excited about the ability to improve your business or facility.  The 5s system seems so very easy when you first hear about it, and it really makes a lot of sense.  The difficulty, however, begins when you start to figure out how to implement this type of system.  Whether you are a business …

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5S Your Auto Shop

If you own an auto repair shop you might be looking for ways to improve your safety and efficiency you may have run across the Lean 5S standard which is used in so many businesses today.  At first glance many people think that this particular standard would not apply to an auto shop because of the fact that you are performing such a wide variety of services on hundreds of different makes and models of cars.  The …

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Custom Foam Drawer Liners

Many facilities have many drawers full of tools or other equipment which is difficult to sort through when people need to use something.  As part of the lean 5s certification you may be looking at this as an opportunity to increase the efficiency of your facility.  Keeping the tools and other items people use well organized and easy to find you can often save a lot of time and energy each year. What are Custom …

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5S Supplies

One of the nice things about the 5s certification is that unlike many other standards, this one has a lot of tools and supplies available to help make implementing the best practices much easier and more effective.  These 5s supplies are available to order right online and they are all very affordable.  Each facility will need a different set of supplies so take some time to go through your facility and identify exactly what you’ll …

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Tool Storage Foam Organizers

While most individuals are happy to have a nice tool box full of tools which they likely only use a couple times per year, a factory or other facility often has thousands of different tools so they need something a little bigger.  In many cases they will keep their tools in drawers which are lined with custom tool storage foam.  The foam is made to hold these tools in a very well organized and safe way …

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