Learn about 5S, a LEAN Methodology tool, and my tips for starting and completing a successful 5S project. The accompanying blog post for this presentation can be found by visiting: https://www.lisamachos.com/single-post/2016/04/18/The-Amazing-Incredible-Powerful-5S

1. SORT
THE
AMAZING,
INCREDIBLE,
POWERFUL
5S
Authored By: Lisa Machos
LEAN Implementation & Six Sigma Action Systems

2. ORIGINS of 5S
History
5S was developed as part of Just In Time (JIT) inventory management (First
Pillar of the House of Quality) in manufacturing by Toyota Production
System in Japan. Toyota’s application of the 5S methodology, originally
proposed by Hirano was based on 4S (with Seiton and Seiso combined).
The steps (whether its 4 or 5) are based on organizing an efficient
workspace.
The Tie of 5S to LEAN
Due to the principals of 5S method in creating efficient workspaces and
physical areas, it is closely related to the principals of *LEAN Methodology
to create efficiency and streamline all aspects of an organization.
*See my Slideshare on “The Power of LEAN”

3. SORT
(Seiri): this deals with organizing
what is useful and what can or should
be removed to improve efficiency.
SHINE
(Seiso): This step is to clean
and sanitize items. This can
also translate into maintenance
of any type of machinery.
STRAIGHTEN
(Seiton): this is the reorganization
and categorization of the
necessary items, ensuring the flow
of the items in the most logical and
time effective order and manner,
and making a specified space for
placement for each item.
5S Progression Diagram
SUSTAIN
(Shitsuke): This step deals with
maintaining all of the other steps,
and is discussed in detail below.
STANDARDIZE
(Seiketsu): This step translates into making the
organization of separate areas consistent with
each other which contributes to the efficiency
of flow and time for multiple people that may
have access or use of the area or items.

4. Zone 5 Project - E-Commerce Company
By Lisa Machos – Solo Project
BEFORE
AFTER

5. BENEFITS OF 5S
1. 5S’d work environments are 30% more productive
2. Reduces Stress
3. Provide Flow/ Access/ Information quickly and
easily de facto more efficient
4. Increase safety, mitigate hazardous areas, debris
and material
5. Take pride in the company and its image
6. Take pride in your professional appearance and
perception
7. Physical 5S projects make a major visual impact to
LEAN improvements

6. BEGINNING A 5S PROJECT
Select the Right Team – make sure you select team
members based on the following criteria:
o Participants are able to complete 5S project when it is
scheduled – some 5S projects require deconstruction and
therefore need to be completed “off-hours” so as to not disrupt
business operations.
o Participants are physically able to complete 5S project – if your
project includes heavy lifting, heavy cleaning, etc. be sure to
include these aspects when choosing/ recruiting team
members. Releases, waivers & safety precautions may need to
be considered in these circumstances.
o Participants who are proactive – in the midst of a 5S project and
tight deadline, its very difficult to direct team members on every
little thing that must get done. Ensure they have had 5S
training, awareness of the plan and vision overall and the
motivation. Otherwise they really will be ‘just a body.’

7. BEGINNING A 5S PROJECT
Take ‘BEFORE’ Pictures &
Videos:
o At times, leaders and participants in a 5S project become so
enthusiastic about the change ahead or so disenchanted by the
current state, they fail to memorialize the start of improvements.
o Always take pictures and videos of at the beginning of your
improvement projects (wherever possible) to illustrate the
extent of the efforts. Without this memorialization, even for
colleagues familiar with the current state, the measureable
results can not be fully recognized and appreciated unless
captured visually in comparison to the ‘AFTER’ memorialization.

8. BEGINNING A 5S PROJECT
Make a Plan
o Collect Input & Information
It’s important to always collect input from various stakeholders and other “users” of a space as
part of the plan. This is to ensure the objectives of the 5S Project meet everyone’s expectations
and needs.
o Review Resources
As part of your plan, review all resources. This can be people to help execute in addition to your
core team, measuring space, evaluating storage and active spaces, scheduling of the project to
not disrupt business, etc. Although the main goal of most 5S projects I have is to complete them
without expenditure, in some cases a budget review is necessary as part of the plan.
o Scope the Future State
There are many different techniques to scope out the future (end) state of your 5S Project, but with
any of them, there should be a clear visual depiction, or written steps (and often times both) of
how the %S Project will be executed and what the completion will look like once completed. This
ensures the goals are met, time tables are kept to, and everyone stays on the same page.
o Approval
In many circumstances, you will need to obtain approval for your final plan, even if you’ve been
assigned the task. Creating a plan that includes sign off from other stakeholders, a thorough
inventory of your resources and a robust visual plan to the execution will show strong diligence to
your approach and success of the project to the powers that be.

9. Office Re-design 5S Project -
Non-Profit/ Retail Company
Lead By: Lisa Machos – Team Project of 8
BEFORE
AFTER

10. Office Re-design 5S Project -
Non-Profit/ Retail Company
Lead By: Lisa Machos – Team Project of 8
BEFORE
AFTER

11. Office Re-design 5S Project -
Non-Profit/ Retail Company
Lead By: Lisa Machos – Team Project of 8
BEFORE
AFTER

12. COMPLETING A 5S PROJECT
o SUSTAIN is the Hardest ‘S’
Sustaining a 5S Project once completed is the hardest step. Oftentimes people fall
into old habits of not putting things in their designated areas, or they get too busy to
maintain organizing systems that have been implemented. It’s important to always
keep the “Sustain” step in your mind and project plan to ensure this is as intuitive and
deviation-proof as possible.
o Inform others
Part of ensuring the Sustain Step is to inform others. This can be part off the Report
Out of your project and it can also include training others. Training can include
informing colleagues or other departments that a space has been 5S’d and is no
longer a dumping ground for excess, it may include training on organization systems
such as Kanban or perishable inventory processes and other procedural training and
re-design.
o Report Out – Visually
This is where your Before and After pictures are key. The Report Out of your
completed 5S Project should yield a measurable visual result. Sometimes, you will be
reporting out to upper management staff that may not be aware of the Beginning state,
so the most impact can be to show your Before Pictures, the visual plan and how the
After Pictures closely relate to the plan and the changes you and your team’s efforts
brought.

13. The ADDITIONAL 5S’s from LEAN Implementation & Six
Sigma Action Systems
Safety
Safety is a cornerstone to all 5S projects. This can range from making the targeted workspace a
safer environment to ensuring the safety of those team members executing the project, i.e. no
unsafe heavy lifting.
Security
Security is another important consideration that may not be obvious. This can range from ensuring
that sensitive information is not open and available to team members that shouldn’t have access to
them but do because of the project execution to building security systems as part of the 5S Project
plan.
S STEPS REGARDING EXCESS
Sell-off
Part of 5Sing is to remove excess, but there should be a clear plan on what to do with that excess.
Can it be sold or traded, can it be recycled, can it be donated to charity?
Salvage
Another category to consider is what can be salvaged. If something is in disrepair and it costs less
to repair than to replace, this should be part of your project budget and cost savings.
Scrap
The last category with excess is scrapping. In some cases this may not be much of an impact but in
other areas, as with obsolete and expensive inventory, this can have a major impact to finances if a
write-off has to be performed. Keep this in mind when planning and as part of your approval.
At L.I.S².A. Systems©, I focus on an additional set of 5S’s that I have found to be critical to the
success of 5S/ LEAN Projects:

14. Understanding How 5S Applies to More Than the
Physical Space
There is a common belief that 5Sing applies to physical spaces only, but in fact there are
many intangible areas that 5s application can make a major impact to the overall efficiency
of a business. And they all begin with ‘S’:
Software
Software and databases make for very interesting 5S projects. Many businesses have
experienced turnover at some point in the life of the organization and shared files and
databases and software modules that were once used, are no longer relevant and they
can take up valuable space on your infrastructure and/ or cause your employees to waste
lots of time trying to find things they need due to the disorganization.
Social Media
In today’s business world, social media is moving fast and there is almost always a new
marketing app or network to be part of and keep your business on the cutting edge. Many
times, however, passwords to these various social media profiles and platforms can get
lost with turnover, some social media platforms become irrelevant due to new, and better
ones created, or they may have outdated information on them due to lack of maintenance.
SOPs
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are another neglected area and prime for 5S
projects. While a 5S Project may yield new SOPs as part of its Sustain step, an entire 5S
project can be built around ensuring your SOP system is labeled correctly, current with the
actual operations and functional and available to those that use them and perform said
operations.

15. BEFORE
AFTER
Bedroom & Basement Project –
Residential
By Lisa Machos – Solo Project

16. SORT
THE AMAZING,
INCREDIBLE,
POWERFUL
5S
Authored By: Lisa Machos
LEAN Implementation & Six Sigma Action Systems
For more information on 5S
applications or to inquire about 5S
implementation for your
organization, please visit:
https://www.lisamachos.com/leanClick HERE to check out a video of one of my
favorite 5S Transformations.