What Is Lean Manufacturing 5S?
One of the basic initiatives for any business looking to go lean will be 5S. This is the process of organizing and cleaning specific sections or work cells of a business to ensure the operate more efficiently. Let’s look at exactly what the term lean manufacturing 5S consists of.
The term 5S is an acronym used because all 5 of the words start with an S. Here’s what they mean:
Sort – This means exactly what it states. You take a certain area you will be working on, and you decide what equipment and tools you’ll need to do the job. All of the other stuff is extra, and will be disposed of.
Set is the next step. This means you will need to find a place for all of the tools needed for the job. Some examples of ways to accomplish this are through the use of a peg board or by using tape to outline where items should be. This ensures you’ve a place for them and people can notice when they are not there.
Shine will be next. This is a easy step in ensuring all of the tools in an area are cleaned and the actual area itself is also clean. Place a person in charge of this area to ensure this is happening.
Now that the area is organized and cleaned, you need to standardize. One of the ways to do this is by having periodic review of the area. Another potential pitfall is not having new procedures. you most likely changed some stuff, so new procedures and new processes will need to be established. This helps to ensure the area operates at a set standard.
Lastly, and the most difficult one, is to sustain the area. You have built a good amount of momentum right now, so now is the ideal time to move to another area. Just be sure to hold the appointed people responsible for the cleanliness of the area accountable. This ensures you don’t need to micro-manage the area, and can focus on the next area.
All businesses should at the minimum have a 5S initiative in their company. Everyone likes a clean area and likes to know what is expected of them. Lean manufacturing 5S can help with this.
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