Program Summary
5S is a systematic process for organizing the workplace which has many benefits including higher quality, lower costs, reliable deliveries, and improved safety (housekeeping methodology). The basic idea of 5S is to eliminate the process waste resulting from an uncontrolled process and have only what you need available in the workplace, a designated space for everything, a standard way of doing things, and the discipline to maintain it.
The 5S system was originally developed and implemented in Japan. The 5S’s are SEIRE, SEITON, SEISO, SEIKITSU and SHITSUKE. (SORT, SET, ORDER, SHINE, STANDARDIZE and SUSTAIN). 5s has several benefits for businesses. It adds value to quality by preventing errors, productivity by eliminating wastes, profitability by customer satisfaction, safety by preventing accidents, and equipment reliability by eliminating maintenance breakdowns. 5S should never be treated as a project, with a beginning and an end. This may cause failure in the 5-S program as it is too easy for employees to return to the original disorganized state. 5-S is not just about changing and improving the physical workplace, but also about changing employee attitudes and behaviors, and making it a discipline for all of them.