Introduction to 5S

5S Methodology is a system or method that is helpful to do the jobs of an

organization effectively and efficiently. It provides the clean environment for
doing tasks. It also provides the safe environment to everyone to the jobs without
any Hazard and risk. The 5S methodology is often considered the foundation of
Lean manufacturing. The reason is for a workplace to reduce waste and become
more efficient, it needs to first be organized that is possible with the
implementation of 5S.
5S Translation
The term 5S comes from the Five Japanese word given below one
by one

Seiri
Seiton
Seiso
Seiketsu
Shitsuke
Translation then into English

Japanese English
Seiri Sort
Seiton Set in order
Seiso Shine
Seiketsu Standardize
Shitsuke Sustain
What is the 6Th S?
The sixth S is stands for Safety. If the 6 th S is implemented after every S of 5S
methodology, it will provide very secured and safer work environment. It will
eliminate all the chances of accidents and unsafe conditions from the working
environment.

Every S of 5S
SORT
Sort is the first step in the 5S methodology. In this step, we separate the necessary
things from unnecessary thing from the working environment. In order to sort out
thee the things the following questions will be helpful,

What is the purpose of a particular tool, item or equipment?

What is the usage of a particular item or tool?
Is this item really needs in the working environment?
After these questions it will be very easy to sort out the things and we can easily
separate the necessary items from unnecessary items.
Tools for Sorting
If one or more items are found to be unnecessary, these items are labeled with the
following tags.
Red Tags
These tags are used for those items which do not require anymore. These items are
transferred to the red tag area.
Yellow Tags
If some items are not required frequently but they can be required in future are
labeled with yellow tags. These items are sent to the other departments or in the
store rooms.
Set in Orders
After the sorting it becomes easier to understand what’s what. In this step, the
necessary items are arranged or organized according to their usage.
The following questions are helpful to perform this step:
 Which of the following items used more frequently?
 Who use the particular items where would it be logical to place the particular
items?
 Should these items be stored individually or in groups?
Tools for setting order
The tools used for set in order step are shadow boards and flour marking.
Shadow Boards
It is a device for organizing and arranging a set of tools. It defines where the
particular tools should be placed when they are not in use. The outlines of
the shadow boards clear to workers where to put back the tools and helpful
to identify which tools are missing.
Flour marking
The flour markings have the best use in creative the homes for particular
equipment when it is not in use. Particularly, pallet jacks to move heavy
loads from one place to another.
Shine
The third step of 5s methodology is shining the work place. it focuses on
cleaning up the work area including swiping, moping, dusting and putting
the tools, equipment and materials away.
Tool for shining
A specific type of cleaner for specific type of cleaning
Standardize
After the implementation of first three steps of 5s methodology, things look
pretty good. All the unwanted stuff is gone, everything is well organized and
the spaces are cleaned. The goal of the standardize pillar of 5S is to maintain
all the progress that we have made in the first three steps.
Tools for the standardize pillar
A checklist can be a very helpful tool in order to perform this step of 5S
methodology. We can also use some kind of chart for performing this step
of 5S methodology.
Sustain
The last but not the least pillar of 5S is Sustain that is the most
important pillar of the 5S methodology. The aim of the sustain is to continue
the progress we have made in the above four steps, including standardized
procedures and transforming them into daily habits in order to ensure
continuous improvement. If a new worker joins, train him to sustain
implemented 5S methodology.