Organized Workplace

Improving productivity, efficiency, and workflow can be as simple as investing in a little organization. A clean and well-organized workplace allows workers to easily find what they need, ensuring a smooth production flow. However, a messy and disorganized workplace may be costing the company valuable resources – tools are more likely to go missing, clutter results in tripping hazards, and unplanned stoppages are a frequent occurrence.

Workplace organization is all about aligning the facility space with operational processes, which also sets a facility up for a Lean manufacturing system. In this kind of flow, production processes are set up in step-by-step order with corresponding equipment and tools arranged nearby. Organizing the work floor this way eliminates excess movement while a clean work environment will boost morale and encourage employees.

In this section we will discuss many facets of an organized workplace, including:

• 5S: As a Lean manufacturing strategy originating from Japan, 5S is an organizational framework emphasizing efficiency and value through the elimination of waste.
• Tool Organization: Messy toolboxes and cluttered workbenches are common areas of waste in a facility, but with some simple organizational tools can save both time and money.
• Visual Management: A place for everything and everything in its place – visual cues like floor tape and industrial labels can take any organization strategy to the next level.
• Continuous Improvement: Organization is something a facility can always improve upon and efforts should be reviewed periodically or when new items come in.

Creative Safety Supply is dedicated to providing the resources managers need to create an organized workplace. Below we have gathered our expert resources on all things organization and efficiency. Whether you need to organize a single work cell or a whole manufacturing facility, we can help.

Getting Started

• Confused about industry jargon? Check out our Lean manufacturing glossary.
• Want to learn more about 5S? Explore our 5S resources.
• Have a question about organizing your workplace? Browse our organized workplace Q&A hub.
• Ready to get started? Shop our selection of Lean tools and supplies.