When most business leaders hear about 5S, they believe that it is just a fancy housekeeping initiative. An audit or methodical examination of the 5S process reveals that it is far more powerful than simple housekeeping. You cannot sustain lasting change through Lean without first implementing 5s.

1. 5s Simplified
Where your Lean journey begins...
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2. What is 5s?
5s is a system to organize your workplace for
efficiency and effectiveness.
It is based upon upon 5 phases in which the
words start with “S”.
The disciplines gained by successfully applying 5s
will both serve as a springboard and act as a
foundation for other continuous improvement
activities.
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3. 5s simplified
Sort
Set in order
Shine
Standardize
Sustain
WWW.EPA.GOV/LEAN/ENVIRONMENT
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4. Sort
Clearly distinguish needed items from unneeded
items and remove clutter.
By removing clutter, employees can find what they
need when they need it, improving productivity.
By challenging the team to eliminate clutter it will
enable you to more easily discern what activities
are value adding and what is waste.
Eliminate the waste!
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5. Sort-Red Tag Events
Define one specific area to begin.(Usually
identified by champion)
Distribute red tags out to team and tag what is not
needed.
Segregate tagged items to a separate area and
catalogue them to keep track of what you remove.
Redeploy to proper area or dispose of as needed.
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6. Set in order
A place for everything and everything in it’s place.
Group like items together...think supermarket!
Organized and labeled...think kindergarten!
Make it obvious when something is out of
place...think visual!
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7. Shine
Think “white glove” even in manufacturing and
distribution environments.
Put in a major effort to rapidly bring the area up to
standard.
Keep track of the most challenging areas, you will
likely need to add these under “daily” when
developing checklists later.
Take picture of what good looks like and commit!
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8. Standardize
Develop standard work around the other S’s
Standard work isn’t heavy documentation.
Think car! Steering wheel, Gas Pedal, & Brake in same place on almost
every vehicle. How is your work area set up? Can anyone “drive”?
Develop daily, weekly, monthly, checklists.
A picture is worth a thousand words...use them!
Standardizing is about making things repeatable!
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9. Sustain
“Bake” 5s into the DNA/Culture of your
organization.
Audit frequently and make that score part of the
metrics you keep up with as part of your KPI’s.
Seek continuous improvement and design your
processes around maintaining a high level of 5s!
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10. 5s simplified
Sort
Set in order
Shine
Standardize
Sustain
WWW.EPA.GOV/LEAN/ENVIRONMENT
WWW.E5SAUDIT.COM

11. For more information...
CHRIS BURNHAM
BLOG: WWW.E5SAUDIT.COM
EMAIL: CHRIS@E5SAUDIT.COM
LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/in/chrisburnham/
PROGRESS OVER PERFECTION!