Learn simple steps that will help you work more effectively.
Who invented the 5S methodology?
Henry Ford made a significant contribution list of cyprus cell phone numbers to lean management and paved the way for lean management 50 years before the birth of this methodology. The CANDO principle, which Ford created, means five steps: cleaning, arranging, neatness, discipline and continuous improvement. A Toyota team visited Ford in the 1950s. At that time, the Japanese brand was producing only 40 cars a day, while Ford produced 8,000.
Therefore, Toyota decided to introduce the American method of mass production with some significant changes. In 1956, Taiichi Ohno, the company’s chief engineer, visited the Ford factory and the Piggly Wiggly supermarket chain. Based on his observations, he began building the Toyota Production System together with Eiji Toyoda. Then Sakichi Toyoda (the father of the Japanese industrial revolution), his son Kiichiro and the aforementioned Taiichi Ohno introduced new improvements to the methodology and called it 5S.
What steps does the 5S work using methodology consist of?
The 5S principle refers to the philosophy of Japanese behavior in everyday life, and as a tool it began to be implemented in companies after World War II. It is also worth adding here that the number “S” may differ from the traditional five-element model. Hiroyuki Hirano introduced the 4S scheme, where Seiri and Seiton were considered as one point. Companies can also use six stages, where the last one means occupational health and safety.
Identify and remove all items that are unnecessary at the workstation. Sorting applies not only to the office space, but also to the contents of our computer or email box. The first “S” involves separating necessary items from unnecessary ones. It is good if we involve everyone in the office in 5S activities, then we usually designate one place where we temporarily store all the items we have doubts about, and then get rid of them or “transfer” them to the next stage of organizing. Remember that what I do not need may be useful to someone else. Therefore, it is worth cultivating the rules of exchange in the office. We consider the first step to be completed when only the items needed to perform tasks remain at the workstation .
#2. Seiton – Straighten – Systematization (arrange)
Designating places for items that were left after the first step and their appropriate labeling is the essence of the second stage. The ideal type in this case is: an organized toolbox or drawers with organizers google partner premier where you can immediately see where everything is and what is missing. It is extremely important to develop the habit of putting things back in their place, as well as meticulously describing resources. In the digital space, we therefore create a systematics of catalogs and names, so that later all files are easy to find, use and put back in their place. Thanks to appropriate labeling, we can see what tools, binders or files we are missing, and then we are able to replenish them faster. The second step should end with clear and transparent labeling of the workplace and common areas.
#3. Seiso – Shine – Cleaning
The aim of the third stage of 5S is to keep the workstation clean and to make it easy to notice any faults, failures, or irregularities. This stage is now given even greater importance, as it also involves disinfecting the workstation – desk guatemala lists computer, telephone, or other tools. The third step also involves repairing equipment, ordering wall painting, securing machines, etc. Our task is to make sure that everything works well – for example, whether the chair at the desk is set up correctly, whether the computer works efficiently and quickly. And if not, we take action to restore all equipment to a state that is conducive to our productivity as soon as possible. At this stage, it is also important to assign responsibility for common areas.
#4. Seiketsu – Standardize – Standardization
This is establishing the principles of implementing the previous stages of 5S. It includes developing and implementing standards of conduct for maintaining order in the workplace common to all participants. This may mean, for example, establishing how often a computer should be serviced, how often 5S workshops should be held in the company, or even how to monitor the naming of files in the project. Sometimes such standardization meetings are held for the entire team or appropriate people who perform a given job are delegated to do so. It is important that all instructions and procedures are clear and understandable and accepted by all employees. An important goal of this step is to ensure that 5S is not a “one-time action” and that we do not quickly return to the state before improvement. Hence the emphasis on describing the principles and frequency of actions and methods of checking them.
#5. Shitsuke – Sustain – Self-discipline (keeping things in order)
The most difficult point is to maintain what has been developed. To achieve this, it is necessary for all employees to participate in 5S activities and for the 5S methodology to become part of everyday work. Stage 5 requires consistency, self-discipline, adherence to the jointly established rules, but also regular checking whether everything is still in place. It often happens that we document our activities during 5S stages, e.g. we take a photo before and after to show the difference. However, this should not lead to excessive bureaucracy or time-consuming 5S audits, in which the activities focus on filling in forms, creating teams to check and analyze the progress of work, or even reporting.
5S is supposed to improve work, so the most important thing in this methodology is to remember that the essence in this case is simplicity, clarity of actions and functionality . If 5S is performed regularly, it will certainly be visible at first glance. Periodic checking (audit) of the current state is of course necessary to maintain order in the long run, but it will not be time-consuming if we use appropriate markings and visual methods in the previous steps.