5S Questions and Answers

There is no shortage of workplace organization and improvement methods available today, but few are better known and more proven than 5S. 5S encompasses visual communication, Lean methods, and organization to foster a less wasteful workplace. This system has been around as a formal system for decades and has been proven effective at improving virtually every aspect of nearly any business across all industries.

What is 5S?

The 5S methodology is a way to cut waste, boost efficiency, and just generally improve the way everything is done within a facility. 5S gets its name from the five Japanese words, Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke, which translate in English to Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain. These five steps will first guide you through the clearing out, organizing, and cleaning a workspace, and then provide guidance for standardizing and sustaining your efforts.

Topics Covered

Below we have explored the many topics of 5S. We cover everything thing you need to know to keep your facility organized and safe. You can learn about things such as:

• History of 5S: Learn about the origins of this Japanese methodology and the role 5S played in the Toyota Production System.
• Where to use 5S: 5S is not just for manufacturing! Find out how 5S can be applied to offices, healthcare facilities, schools, and other workplaces.
• Safety: Have you heard of 6S? Learn about the updated 5S method and how some argue 5S already improve safety, no need for an extra phase.
• Kicking off 5S: We provide advice for that brand new to the 5S system, tips for implementation, where to use it in the facility, and just how to sustain these improvements.