Episode 3 : Suzuki San explains 5S to Miss P

Suzuki San writes to Miss P this week :

Dear Miss P , Sorry  I had planned to come over this week , but I have some meetings in Lusaka . However , you may go through the mail and put it on your notice board for other staff to see and benefit .

Last week , We saw about managing simple things and started with Time management . This week I want to talk about 5S concept , which is very well known to you . So , I will devote only two articles to 5S and will ask any of those who have queries to comment on the blog KJ is maintaining as I have asked him to publish this as well .

5S is the name of a workplace organization method that uses a list of five Japanese words: seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu, and shitsuke. Translated in English , 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 of change and doing simple things properly .  The decision-making process usually comes from a dialogue about standardization, which builds understanding among employees of how they should do the work.

 

There are five 5S phases: They can be translated from the Japanese as "sort", "straighten", "shine", "standardise", 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
• Remove all parts not in use
• Segregate unwanted material from the workplace
• Need fully skilled supervisor for checking on regular basis
• Don`t put unnecessary items at the workplace & define a red-tagged area to keep those unnecessary items

Seiton

整頓 (Systematic Arrangement)

• Can also be translated as "set in order", "straighten" or "streamline"
• Arrange all necessary items so they can be easily selected 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
• All above work should be done on regular basis

Seiso

清掃 (Shine)

• Can also be translated as "sweep", "sanitize", "shine", or "scrub"
• Clean your workplace completely
• Use cleaning as inspection
• Prevent machinery and equipment deterioration
• Keep workplace safe and easy to work
• Keep work place clean

Seiketsu

清潔 (Standardize)

• Standardize the best practices in the work area.
• Maintain high standards of housekeeping and workplace organization at all times.
• Maintain orderliness. Maintain everything in order and according to its standard.
• Everything in its right place.(Chilled food items  in chilled area, Dry ones in dry area.)
• Every process has a standard.

Shitsuke

躾 (Sustain)

• To keep in working order
• Also translates as "do without being told" (though this doesn't begin with S)
• Perform regular audits
• Training and Discipline
• Training is goal oriented process. Its resulting feedback is necessary monthly

 To conclude , Miss P , you would have seen the word "RED TAG" in the above material and you may be wondering what a RED TAG is . I will explain about this in the coming week . If anyone has any queries please post it as a comment on the blog , either myself or KJ will respond .  Bye for now. 

Regards

Suzuki

Reference :

1.    Wikipedia
2.    http://www.forestry.gov.my/negerisembilan/images/stories/Laporan/5s_circle.gif