Lean
Process - 5 S'
Value for money, competitiveness, reduce costs... all terms we are familiar with.
5S Methodology helps in achieving all the above and more
5S is orginated in Japan and is a list of 5 words starting with 'S' in Japanese.
The traslation is:
- Separating [Seiri]
- Sorting [Seiton]
- Shine/Sweeping [Seiso]
- Standardise [Seiketsu]
- Sustaining [Shitsuke]
Each task should not be isolated from the other. All 5S make for an office,manufactory to work efficiently, lean and safely.
By applying the 5S everything has a place, time is not wasted by looking fro items or documents.
5S promotes work flow.
In brief:
-
Separating - separate any tool, material paper, etc. Keep near the work area only items that are relevant and essential to the task usually performed
- Sorting - each of the tools, materials, papers, etc. are neatly placed together and labelled and easily found when needed
- Shine - keep your work area, workplace clean. at the end of each shift or your work day, clean the area around you either for the next person to work in that area or for you to the following day. Done regularly it won't take long. This will also improve Health & Safety in the work place
- Standardising - comform/standardise work practises. This is especiually useful and necessary when an office has more than one person; but even if you work alone it is important to have a system in place to follow
- Sustaining - maintaining the system and order you have created. improving it and updating it if necessary, every 6-months/1 year.
