5S
Japanese Concept for
Workplace Improvement
Anurag Bansal
blog@knowliz.com
http://www.knowliz.com

What is 5S?
• 5S is a Japanese philosophy that focuses on effective
workplace organization and standardized work
procedures. 5S simplifies the work environment, reduces
waste and non-value activity while improving quality
efficiency and safety.
• 5S is a structured program to systematically achieve total
organization, cleanliness and standardization in the
workplace.
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Version 1 Dec 2004

What are “5S” ?
Seiri Seiton Seiso
Sort Straighten Shine
Seiketsu Shitsuke
Standardize Sustain
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Version 1 Dec 2004

What does that mean?
• Seiri : Put things in order
(Remove what is not needed and keep what is needed)
• Seiton : Proper Arrangement
(Place things in such a way that they are easily accessible
whenever they are needed)
• Seiso : Clean
(Keep things clean and polished; No trash or dirt in the workplace)
• Seiketsu : Standardize
(Standardize the best practices & process of cleaning the workplace.
For example, develop a habit of cleaning your workplace.)
• Shitsuke : Commitment & Self-discipline
(Develop an attitude to follow the above „4S‟)
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Version 1 Dec 2004

Seiri : Sort
Seiri
Sort
• Seiri : Sort
Keep the necessary things in work area.
Dispose or keep in a distant storage area less frequently used items.
Discard unnecessary items.
The idea is to ensure that everything left at the workplace is related
to work.
Seiri fights the habit to keep things because they may be useful
SOMEDAY. It helps to keep work area tidy, improves searching and
fetching efficiency and clears most of the space consumed by
unnecessary things.
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Seiton : Proper Arrangement
Seiton
Straighten
• Seiton: Proper Arrangement
Systematic arrangement for the most
efficient and effective retrieval. This
step is all about putting things to its
assigned place so that it can be accessed
easily and quickly.
Seiton Saying will be :
“A place for everything and everything
on its place.”
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Seiso : Shine
Seiso
Shine
• Seiso : Shine/Cleaning
After the first thorough cleaning when implementing 5S, daily
follow-up cleaning is necessary in order to sustain this
improvement. Regular cleanliness is always helpful in
identifying damages to equipments such as leakages and breakage
etc. This in turn helps in protecting equipments failure and loss of
production.
Seiso is all about shining the workplace and viewing it through
the eyes of a visitor.
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Seiketsu : Standardize
Seiketsu
Standardize
• Seiketsu : Standardize
Once the first 3S have been in place, it should be set as a standard so to
keep the best practices in place. Without it the situation will
deteriorate gradually and will be back to its old condition in no time.
The first 3S can often be executed by order.
Seiketsu helps to turn it into natural, standard behavior and habit.
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Shitsuke : Sustain
Shitsuke
Sustain
• Shitsuke : Sustain
Develop an attitude to maintain the other 4S alive. Create a discipline in
whatever you are doing.
Shitsuke helps in ongoing improvement and be expanded beyond initial
limits. The emphasis of Shitsuke is elimination of bad habits and constant
practice of good ones.
The effect of continuous improvement leads to less waste, better quality, high
morale, cleaner workplaces and faster lead times.
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Benefits of following 5S
• Once fully implemented, the 5S process can increase
morale, create positive impressions on customers and
increase efficiency and organization. Not only will the
people feel better about where they work, the effect of
continuous improvement can lead to less waste, better
quality and faster lead times.
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Version 1 Dec 2004

Start
5S
NOW
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Version 1 Dec 2004