What is 5S ? Why is it so effective ?

I dedicate this blog to all the people of Japan, who have raised their country to amazing heights even after their devastation in World war 2 who never abandoned their country. But how did they do it ? What is their secret ? One of their most effective method to increase their productivity is the 5S method.

What is 5S ?

5S is the short form of the workplace organization methods denoting the 5 Japanese words Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu and Shitsuke. The list describes how to organize a work space for efficiency and effectiveness by identifying and storing the items used, maintaining the area and items, and sustaining the new order

There are five primary 5S phases: They can be translated from the Japanese as "sort", "set in order", "shine", "standardize", and "sustain".

Seiri (整理?, sort)

• Remove unnecessary items and dispose of them properly
• Make work easier by eliminating obstacles
• Reduce chance of being disturbed with unnecessary items
• Prevent accumulation of unnecessary items
• Evaluate necessary items with regard to cost or other factors.

Seiton (整頓?, straighten or streamline)

• Arrange all necessary items in order so they can be easily picked for use
• Prevent loss and waste of time
• Make it easy to find and pick up necessary items
• Ensure first-come-first-served basis
• Make workflow smooth and easy
• Can also be translated as "set in order"

Seiso (清掃?, shine)

• Clean your workplace completely
• Use cleaning as inspection
• Prevent machinery and equipment deterioration
• Keep workplace safe and easy to work
• Can also be translated as "sweep"

Seiketsu (清潔?, standardize)

• Maintain high standards of housekeeping and workplace organization at all times
• Maintain cleanliness and orderliness
• Maintain everything in order and according to its standard.

Shitsuke (躾?, sustain)

• To keep in working order
• Also translates as "do without being told"

5S was developed in Japan and was identified as one of the techniques that enabled Just in Time manufacturing.

Two major frameworks for understanding and applying 5S to business environments have arisen, one proposed by Osada, the other by Hirano.Hirano provided a structure for improvement programs with a series of identifiable steps, each building on its predecessor. As noted by John Bicheno,Toyota's adoption of the Hirano approach, was '4S', with Seiton and Seiso combined. However, Toyota now uses the 5S as a standard.

Although the origins of the 5S methodology are in manufacturing, it can also be applied to knowledge-economy work, with information, software, or media in the place of physical product.Though the 5S concept was originated to increase factory productivity, It is also highly recommended for individuals to follow. 

Origins of 5S

5S as a methodology has come out of the techniques within Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and from the Toyota Production System (TPS). However many of the individual components such as creating ergonomic and efficient work places can be seen to owe their roots to people such as Taylor for his work on “scientific management” and Frank Gilbreth’s “time and motion studies.”

Frank Gilbreth showed that by improving the ergonomics of a bricklayers working methods he could reduce the number of individual movements required and increase the hourly output from 120 to 350 bricks laid each hour.

As I said earlier the original 5S system originated for industries the are very well applicable for individuals to improve their efficiency and productivity.