Learn about the 5S's:

• Sort

• Shine

• Set in Order

• Standardize and

• Sustain

Used by Japanese cultures to ensure an organized, pleasant and efficient space is always maintained, directly influencing the culture around you, 5S is a must-have in all sectors of business and home life to ensure you keep making incremental changes and take steps forward towards your goals.

5S is based on the idea that to have a productive workplace, it must be a clean, well-organized and well-maintained place. The name of the methodology comes from the five words that describe the five steps required to optimize a workplace

5S is simple but powerful. IT makes the workplace a better place to be. Make no mistake, we have to learn how to do it. It does not always come naturally (or at least not naturally enough).

Implementing the 5S method means cleaning up and organizing the workplace in its existing configuration. It is typically the first lean method that organizations implement. This lean method encourages workers to improve their working conditions and helps them to learn to reduce waste.

A typical 5S implementation would result in the organization of tools and materials into labeled and color coded storage locations, as well as “kits” that contain just what is needed to perform a task.

The 5 S‘s are Sort, Shine, Set in Order, Standardize and Sustain.

Safety is the honorary 6th S. You‘ll sometimes see 6S instead of 5S to highlight Safety. In 5S, Safety is an integral part of each of the 5S‘s, which are all focused on efficiency, effectiveness and safety.

•The first 3 S’s (Sort, Shine and Set in Order) are about housekeeping, efficiency and quality

•The last two (Standardize and Set in Order) are about creating a culture of discipline to make sure that the first 3 Ss don’t deteriorate.