Conducting A
5S Project

Implementing a 5S project is a commonly used improvement method. However, its effectiveness in many businesses leaves much to be desired. To help you, you can download a 5S template at the bottom of this article.

I personally like 5S principles very much. It is simple, it is quick to get started with and (most importantly to me) it helps to get the improvement conversation with your team initiated.

5S Project

If you haven't come across a 5S project before let me quickly explain what it is. 5S is a five step approach to improving the organization, effectiveness and efficiency of the workplace. It is not just about tidying up your place of work! The five steps (summarized) are:

1.     Sort - declutter the working area (physical or electronic).

2.     Set in order - re-organize the contents of your working area for safety and efficiency.

3.     Shine - put some pride back into the workplace and give it a clean.

4.     Standards - agree and describe how to leave the area when completing the work, and any routine actions that need to take place (in particular maintenance and filing type actions).

5.     Sustain - decide on how you want to periodically check on the working area so that you maintain the standards.

Most businesses are pretty good at following the first two or three steps of the 5S principles for a 5S project. Many fail to decide on the standards and most fail to sustain the whole approach.

5S Best Practices

The below form allows you to quickly evaluate your business from a 5S perspective. 

Conducting the evaluation is easy; take the form with you to the area under review. For each of the 5S types, select a finding and then input an action(s) that lets you get to a rating of 5. 

The actions that your created during your 5S review can become just one part of an overall improvement plan and you can use our pre-loaded template to help you identify what you need to do to make 5S effective within your business.