Our experienced team will help you identify what is and isn't working with your current space and layout and help your team through the 5S steps.

1. Seiri - (Sort)

Sort, inspect, and identify equipment, supplies, and other items critical to the operation being performed. Remove everything from the work area. Identify everything critical to the function of the work space.  Eliminate duplicates, unnecessary equipment, trash, and things that aren't required. Once non-essential items are identified, dispose of them or store them outside of the work cell.

2. Seiton - (Set in Place)

"A place for everything, and everything in its place"

Remember to envision the work area as it should be. Consider the flow of work, and organize equipment and supplies to ensure good proximity of tools and supplies, and the ability to clean, and re-fill supplies quickly.

By assigning the best position for everything you need you will optimize your layout.

To eliminate "hunting" for tools or supplies like tape guns, brooms and boxes create a specific place just for these things. Consider using Shadow Boards for cleaning supplies and if items must be stored on the floor, use tape or striping to identify where the item belongs.  For supplies consider tool holders, pegboards or dividable drawers.

3. Seiso - (Shine)

When you clean the area to make it ready for use, consider the lighting and the ability to keep the area clean over time. Cleaning will be an important activity done without fail, every day.

At the end of a day or shift any excess packing materials should be cleaned and discarded. Boxes, cartons, and filler material should be removed from the desktop. The floor should be swept and tools should be returned to their storage location.

When you work in a clean and organized space, you become more clean and organized, and it may help create a sense of pride, and ownership.

4. Seiketsu - (Standardize)

All stakeholders should be involved in 5S projects, because often the best people to define the Best Practice Standards are the employees who deal with the issues on a daily basis.

Ensure everyone is involved, knows what they are supposed to do, what's expected of them, and what is needed to perform tasks. Update the standards and be sure everyone knows their importance.

5. Shitsuke - (Sustain)

Sustaining the new standard is the hardest part of the process and 5S won't work if you don't continue to execute. People tend to return to old habits unless new ones are instilled and actively managed. Once you've reorganized work areas, cleaned, created standards the real work is sticking to them.   Continuous improvement, regular meetings, and workplace inspections can help ensure success.