Tuesday, July 14, 2020

5S (Lean Tool)

5S is a workplace organization method that can help improve the efficiency and management of operations. 


  • SORT (SEIRI) -- Sort thru the items as required and remove unneeded items from work area. Never used items need to be discarded immediately.
  • SET IN ORDER (SEITON) -- Arrange required items for ease of accessibility. Files that are required more often (SOP, instructions etc.) are placed in marked location / designated area. 
  • SHINE (SEISO) -- Cleaning the work area and equipment. (Manufacturing example - cleaning of inspection surface plates leads to better measurement results). Other e.g. equipment work table cleaning and cleaning of the floor.
  • STANDARDIZE (SEIKETSU) - Involves developing checklists, standards, and work instructions to keep the work area in an orderly condition. 
  • SUSTAIN (SHITSUKE) - Sustaining efforts and continuing them (continuous improvement). Requires support of team and that of management, empowerment of employees, etc.  
> A process is impacted by its environment
> The ability of employees to process change is also impacted by its environment
> Improvement in the work area is helpful for controlling the process.

5S Example in a Service-based Industry

  • CEO asks for progress update on existing cost improvement initiatives.
  • PMO shares a comprehensive report spending 80 hours and at least two loops. 
  • CEO unhappy. 
  • 5S is deployed. 
    • Existing report looked at
    • Sorted existing reports based on stakeholder requirements - high, med, low
    • What type of data was being collected, and how it was collected for the report. Was being done manually, and in various formats.
    • The improvement team "sorted" the available information as inputs to fulfill the requirements. 
    • Set in order - Created input screen from where PMO could add his details, and the PMs can collect data and upload their reports. 
    • Created reports in Tableau. 
    • Shine - identified 5PMs and executed a pilot. 
    • Standardize - Created training material, SOPs, maintenance procedures, 
    • Sustain - for 2 months. 

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