What Is 5S?

5S is a systematic form of visual management utilizing everything from floor tape to operations
manuals. It is not just about cleanliness or organization; it is also about maximizing efficiency and
profit. 5S is a framework that emphasizes the use of a specific mindset and tools to create efficiency
and value. It involves observing, analyzing, collaborating, and searching for waste and also involves
the practice of removing waste.

5S includes five terms that all start with the letter "S."

What Does 5S Stand For?

5S, sometimes referred to as 5s or Five S, refers to five Japanese terms used to describe the steps
of the 5S system of visual management. Each term starts with an S. In Japanese, the five S's
are Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke. In English, the five S's are translated as Sort, Set in
Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain.

There are five key practices involved in 5S. They are as

follows:

Japanese
American Term Definition
Term

Sort through materials, keeping only the essential

items needed to complete tasks. (This action
involves going through all the contents of a
Seiri Sort workspace to determine which are needed and which
can be removed. Everything that is not used to
complete a work process should leave the work
area.)

Seiton Set in Order Ensure that all items are organized and each item has
a designated place. Organize all the items left in the
Japanese
American Term Definition
Term

workplace in a logical way so they make tasks easier

for workers to complete. This often involves placing
items in ergonomic locations where people will not
need to bend or make extra movements to reach
them.

Proactive efforts to keep workplace areas clean and

orderly to ensure purpose-driven work. This means
cleaning and maintaining the newly organized
Seiso Shine
workspace. It can involve routine tasks such as
mopping, dusting, etc. or performing maintenance on
machinery, tools, and other equipment.

Create a set of standards for both organization and

processes. In essence, this is where you take the first
Seiketsu Standardize three S's and make rules for how and when these
tasks will be performed. These standards can involve
schedules, charts, lists, etc.

Sustain new practices and conduct audits to maintain

discipline. This means the previous four S's must be
Shitsuke Sustain continued over time. This is achieved by developing
a sense of self-discipline in employees who will
participate in 5S.
Principles of 5S and lean management which can benefit every
manufacturer
Posted on 16 Mar 2018 by Tim Brown

5S is an organisation system that prioritises efficiency and effectiveness within

the work place. The principles of 5S originated from five Japanese words: 整理
(Seiri), 整頓 (Seiton), 清掃 (Seiso), 清潔 (Seiketsu), 躾 (Shitsuke), which have been
translated into English roughly as ‘Sort’, ‘Set in Order’, ‘Shine’, ‘Standardize’, and
‘Sustain’.

Image courtesy of Depositphotos.

The principles of 5S are also commonly known as ‘lean management’ and were
instigated by Toyota in the 1950s.

The main purpose of 5S, also known as lean management, is to reduce waste and
increase efficiency, thereby reducing production costs while increasing productivity,
safety, and employee satisfaction. To achieve lean management in your company,
follow the principles behind 5S:

Sort

The first step to making your workplace more efficient is to sort through which items
need to be there, and which items don’t. This may involve speaking with production or
hygiene teams to find out exactly what equipment they need available to them, so any
surplus tools can be removed. De-cluttering your production and office space in this
manner makes it more organised, as only the needed items are present, and the
unnecessary items are either relocated, stored, or recycled. If there are any items you
are unsure of, red-tag it; if that tagged item has not been used in, say, a month or two,
you are free to remove it from the area.

Set in Order
With your workplace cleaned up, it’s time to put everything in its place. How you
organise your equipment will depend on your workspace’s needs, but the more
organised and uniform your workplace, the safer and more efficient it is for your
employees. That is why shadow boards are important; they are an inexpensive way
to keep all your equipment orderly, so employees can locate equipment and store it with
ease. This visual organization keeps equipment in its best possible condition, reducing
the cost of replacement and ensuring that any broken or substandard items can be
sorted quickly. It also raises departmental accountability and a business’s overall
operating standards.

Shine

In the grand scheme of things, cleanliness can easily be overlooked, but it shouldn’t
be. The regular cleaning and maintenance of equipment helps keep it running smoothly.
It also allows employees to catch problems in the equipment and your systems before
they become a serious issue.

Standardise

Without standardisation, your efforts so far will amount to nothing more than a good
spring clean. Standardising work processes and tasks ensures that every aspect of your
work stays efficient. There’s a number of different techniques that can be used, from a
checklist to schedules, so you’ll be able to find a solution that works best for your
business.

Sustain

In order to continue working efficiently, maintenance work is an absolute necessity.

Standardisations make this easier to conduct and continue, as it is only in the long term
that the principles of 5S or lean management truly come into effect.

We all know that time wasted is also money wasted, which is why efficient and orderly
workplaces can help improve the company as a whole. This is where the principles of
5S and lean management really come into their own. If every aspect of your company is
working at maximum efficiency, you can reduce costs and improve profits, giving you
the opportunity to reinvest and expand.