What is the 5S System?
The Japanese 5S system is a structured system that allows you to create an optimal working environment in your production or office. The way to achieve ideal conditions is to get the workplace in order, to be clean and tidy, and to develop measures that save time and energy.
In other words, the 5S system seeks to streamline the chaos that occasionally occurs in a factory, firm, or any other industry that represents the collective workflow of many people.
Components of the 5S System Techniques
The 5S technique is based on the five basic principles of building a business, or as the Japanese, themselves call them. Let’s briefly review them.
1. – “Seiri”, in Japanese means sorting, removing everything unnecessary.
In practical terms, this point of the 5S system involves dividing everything around her in the workplace into two groups: necessary and unnecessary. People divide items into three nominal categories:
- The unnecessary things, that is, the things that need to be gotten rid of;
- Those that are potentially necessary – those that can be used from time to time – are moved to a separate storage place;
Necessary items are items that are needed daily at work, items that you can’t do without at work.
It is believed that this step increases business culture and safety.
2. “Seaton,” which can be translated as “precision, commitment to proper order.”
This step focuses on sorting the items needed in daily work. Workstations are placed where they can easily get them at the right time. It is recommended that all items of the deck be marked for quick retrieval.
3. “Seiso- means “orderly July, clean maintenance.”
This step aims to increase the cleanliness of production. The workplace should be divided into several functional areas, which will contain visually related things. Keeping all devices clean and periodically checking them in July will prevent any failures and breakdowns that could interfere with effective work.
4. “Seiketsu” is a word that translates to “standardization.”
At this stage, the first results of the implementation of the first three steps are analyzed, and the results are recorded in a special notebook (or saved electronically). The most effective solutions depend on standardization and automation of the workflow.
5. – “Shitsuke” – in translation this concept means “improvement, formation of discipline”.
The last step is aimed at the implementation of 5s as a philosophy. A lean production system, created during the implementation of the previous steps, can significantly improve the efficiency of all work, which is ultimately the main goal of time management.
