5S workplace organisation Process engineering 5S workplace organisation

5S workplace organisation A place for everything and everything in it’s place. 5S is a set of house-keeping disciplines designed to assist workplace organisation. The concept was developed by the Japanese: as a management tool to assist with continuous improvement in the workplace.

Why use 5S? It is a simple process It involves the whole team It is a process used to support continuous improvement, attitude and behavioural change It is the basic discipline for house-keeping It is a highly visible performance measure.

The objectives of 5S A safer place to work Produces higher quality products Keeps production costs down Improves productivity Improves organisation ‘Everything in its place and a place for everything’ Supports storage space reduction Supports inventory reduction Improves employee involvement and satisfaction Visualises continuous improvement.

What is 5S? The breakdown of 5S: Sort Set in order Shine Standardise Sustain

1st S = Sort This separates the items needed in a work area from those no longer needed. Get rid of what you do not need Forget the ‘I’ll keep it just in case’ syndrome Follow the ‘One is best’ rule.

2nd S = Set in order This keeps the needed items in the correct place to allow for easy and immediate retrieval. Arrange items so everyone can: see where items are kept easily pick items up use items return items to proper place Follow the (FIFO) rule The ‘first in first out’ rule is used to rotate stock A responsible person for every area.

3rd S = Shine This keeps floors, work surfaces and equipment clean and free from dirt, debris, oil, etc. Everyone is a cleaner Individual cleaning responsibility/cleaning roster assigned Operator equipment care standards Do not litter your workplace Pick up any litter you see.

4th S = Standardise This defines standard activities, procedures, schedules and people responsible for keeping the workplace clean and organised. Systematic programs 5S awareness campaigns Visual controls Use colour codes for tool boxes, zones etc Use shadow boards Before and after photos Use common tools, equipment and systems.

4th S = Standardise What are the advantages of standardising? Visual management Easy to find the right item Easy to identify problems Easy to audit/check. This discipline builds a work environment with standardised work procedures, so people are not tempted to do irregular activities (such as lifting, bending and stretching) which could lead to injuries.

5th S = Sustain This helps the organisation to be disciplined in maintaining new standards and procedures. Adhere to the rules and principles of 5S Carry out individual 5S responsibilities Regular performance monitoring Regular 5S auditing Forget the argument ‘Why should I clean it, it will only get dirty again’ Everything has a correct place.

What does 5S achieve? All 5S disciplines are considered and integrated into the context of safety and proper housekeeping standards. Change your outlook to the workplace Improve the quality of your work Maintain a clean and efficient workplace Improve moral A work environment that is safe for all employees Physically Emotionally Professionally Attain customer satisfaction.

Using 5S in the workplace Conduct monthly audits using a matrix and assign tasks to relevant departments or people. Graph the results and display them in the area as a key performance indicator (KPI). Acknowledge each area’s achievements as they improve.

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