The 5S system is a key component of Lean Six Sigma. Developed at Toyota, the 5S approach creates safer, more efficient workstations that allow employees to improve and sustain higher productivity. The term 5S refers to the five steps of the system.

  • Seiri (Sort)
  • Seiton (Straighten or Set in Order)
  • Seiso (Shine)
  • Seiketsu (Standardize)
  • Shitsuke (Sustain)

The idea that drives 5S is to have a place for everything and everything in its place. It’s considered a foundational pillar of Lean and a key method for eliminating the Eight Wastes of Lean, improving both processes and customer satisfaction. It also gives employees control over their workstation and the responsibility for keeping it clean and efficient.

An Overview of 5S

Each 5S step focuses on a different aspect of making workstations more clean, efficient and safe. Taken together, they can make a workplace less stressful, cut down on wasted time and help employees become more productive.

Seiri (Sort)

A 5S project starts with sorting at the workstation. This involves going carefully through every item and eliminating those that do not add value to the process or help an employee accomplish their daily tasks. Simply removing unneeded items can immediately declutter a workstation. This process involves every area of the workstation, including in, on and underneath the desk.

Seiton (Straighten or Set in Order)

In this step, employees set up a system to organize their workstation, using only the items needed to do their jobs. The general premise is to place frequently needed items within easy reach while storing less needed farther from where the employee sits or stands. Some workstations benefit from having labeled areas where specific items go, allowing employees to see at a glance where things are and what might be missing or in low supply.

Seiso (Shine)

With everything in its place, employees can now easily clean and further tidy their area. This also is the time to make any changes needed after using the system that employees set in order in the second step. Continuous improvements and adjustments are part of the 5S process.

Seiketsu (Standardize)

During this step, employers develop safe and efficient practices they can put into place to maintain the gains made with the first three steps. This is the step where employees become responsible for finding ways to maintain 5S at their workstation. This step often is more successful if employers create daily, weekly and monthly tasks and goals.

Shitsuke (Sustain)

This step involves making a commitment to sustaining 5S and striving to make improvements. It’s helpful to take a picture of the workstation after it’s been completely set up to use as a guideline. An annual audit also can help determine what has worked, what hasn’t worked and what changes are needed.

Use: If you have ever gone out into the garage for spring cleaning and have looked at the mess and didn’t even know where to begin, you can appreciate the value of a 5S methodology. You start with sorting everything. Put everything into homogeneous piles. Then, you find a place to put everything, but more importantly you want to make it so that everything has a place, and everything is in its place. Included in the 5S methodology is cleaning. That is the shine/sweep step. You then standardize best practices. And you would want to have a conscientiously-applied program to sustain the arrangement.