Using 5S Tools to Keep a Clean and Efficient Workspace

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5S is used in all kinds of businesses ranging from occupations in manufacturing to office jobs. Its ubiquity is due to the relatively simple and cohesive application that results in greatly improved working conditions not only for employees but for the success of the company as a whole. Those improvements boil down to a spotless workspace that results in efficiency, improvements regarding safety, and the elimination of waste.

Now, the five steps that 5S is based upon are sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain. Each of these steps have aspects that more or less help keep areas tidy. In addition to using those five main pillars of the 5S methodology, the use of organizational tools assists in building a 5S program that is there to stay.

The Five S’s

Sort

Sort is the first step in utilizing 5S to eliminate the problem of waste in the workplace. By removing everything from the area and sorting them into 4 different categories (keep, remove, probation, and move) that area will be on its way to a fresh start.

  • Red tags are super handy during this step because they allow for equipment to be placed in a holding area due to its lack of frequent use However, these tagged items still may prove useful later which is why they are kept. If the items are not used within a period of time, the equipment should be removed since has become a source of wasted of space.

Set in Order

Set in Order focuses on where those objects and tools go after they are sorted. This is a critical step in 5S methodology because this is where efficiency comes into play. By placing these tools in their most logical homes productivity will not suffer from lost time looking for tools. Lost time is a form of waste which is why organization is an important part of tidying the workspace.

  • Useful tools to think about in this step of 5S are shadow boards and foam tool organizers. These help employees find where objects go rather than letting things like wrenches, screwdrivers, and other potentially sharp objects pile up in a drawer waiting for someone to hurt themselves. While eliminating wasted time this step also hits that improved safety feature!

Shine

Shine is the definition of deep cleaning. Once everything is in its rightful place and organized via the previous two steps, the employees must go through the entire workstation or area and make it spotless, free of grime, dust, dirt, etc.

  • This step is everyone’s job! Keeping a regular cleaning schedule helps equipment and other tools to last longer.
  • A deep clean is also a tool in of itself because it can be used as an inspection opportunity for equipment that may have broken or for spotting hazards in the workplace.

Standardize

Standardize helps with consistency with where things are placed and what tools are used. This new habit ensures 5S efforts won’t slide down the drain and turn into a haphazard effort to really eliminate those eight wastes of lean.

  • Reminders all around the facility help with this step. Those can be things like floor marking, labeling, and the placement of floor and wall signs. New habits can only be made when employees remember to do something, no one can expect that after just one verbal reminder without frequent visual cues.

Sustain

Sustain is the very last step in a 5S regime. With everyone’s participation, employees and management alike, the 5S methodology will become second nature in the culture of the workplace. Participation helps 5S become a long-term project for everyone as there are always improvements to be made at any business.

  • Training is a big part of this step. When introduced early on, new employees will have an easier time developing the 5S process as a habit.
  • Employers can try using encouragement tools such as a reward system. This can be anything from a prize for a 5S competition between workers or even a pizza party.

Overall, any company can benefit from a clean and tidy workspace by using 5S techniques. With less waste and a safer environment for employees no one will be dissatisfied with how production is running.

Additional Resources

Related posts:

  1. How to Organize Your Shop: Try 5S
  2. 5S and Lean
  3. Executing a 5S Launch
  4. What is 5S and How Should We Implement It?
  5. The 5S Shine Pillar – Inspection and Maintenance
  6. Lean Supplies
  7. Connection Between 5S and Lean
  8. Foundational Concepts of Lean
  9. 5S Floor Tape