Sort
(Seiri)

The 5S workplace organization process usually starts out by sorting the useful from the unnecessary. The only things that should remain in a work area are the parts, tools, & instructions needed to do the job.

Systemize

Straighten
Set in Order
(Seiton)

Everything has a place; everything is in its place.

This is also a good time for your team to create a Visual Scoreboard, Jidoka lights, floor paint, kanbans, and other visual controls described in our our free Lean & Kaizen PowerPoint presentation.

Sanitize

Sweep & Shine
(Seiso)

Do an initial spring cleaning.
Maybe painting, scouring, sweeping, washing, rinsing, scrubbing, and whatever else is needed to make your work place shine.

Use cleaning as a method of inspection. Cleanliness reveals problems.

Standardize(Seiketsu)

In the Standardize phase of Lean 5 S, routine cleaning becomes a way of life.

Preventative maintenance is routinely performed, perhaps with planning and scheduling and some responsibilities done by your central maintenance department, and as much routine maintenance as possible performed by the people that know that work center better than anyone else.

Sustain
(Shitsuke)

Shitsuke is when five S becomes a routine way of life. Root causes are routinely identified and dealt with. The Systems2win 5 S forms and the Standard Work Audit are very familiar to everyone - both supervisors and the workers that have come to appreciate the benefits of Five S and Lean methods.

Safety
(the 6th S)

Some companies name their program 6S - to emphasize safety - but the truth is that safety is inseparably intertwined with every one of the traditional 5 categories. An uncluttered workplace is a safer workplace. A well maintained piece of equipment is a safer piece of equipment. A clean workplace is a safer workplace. The Deep Horizon oil spill would not have happened if the workers had followed their Standardized Work.

and some companies even have a 7th S - for Security (or something else).

5S Assessment Checklist

Purpose: To measure and improve 5s workplace organization, instill 5s philosophy, and evaluate success of your 5s implementation

3 tools in1:

1. Serves as a 5S Audit Checklist
   carried on a clipboard as a supervisor physically inspects the gemba where the work is performed - as prescribed in their Leader Standard Work
2. Print Trend Charts
   to monitor and manage improvement over time
3. Print 5S Housekeeping Scorecard
   to publish a radar chart and thermometer chart for any selected audit period

Publish the Trend Charts and Radar Scorecard on your Team Accountability Board to motivate your team members to continuously improve their 5S workplace organization.

The radar chart and thermometer charts easily scale between 5,6,or even 7S categories.

5S Checklist

This simple 5S template is written using Microsoft Word,
and it is yours free when you download your free trials.

When you compare this simple Word template with the Excel-based Assessment Checklists (a sample Lean Assessment also comes with your free trials),
you will begin to appreciate the difference between home grown tools vs. Systems2win templates.

5S Standard

To clarify expectations for 5S workplace organization and housekeeping,
and/or to serve as a "before and after" storyboard.

Refer to this document from the Assessment Checklist -
so that many diverse work areas can share the same
(more generally worded) assessment criteria -
by referring to the (more detailed) 5S Standards unique to each work area.

5S Red Tags

Purpose: To provide a systematic approach to your Sort activities.

Every employee should be trained to attach a Red Tag to any item that they suspect might be unnecessary within their work area (when in doubt - tag it)

AT ANY TIME... (this is not a one-time project)...
a supply of Red Tags should always be available in a known, easily-accessed location.

Before disposition is carried out... the Team Leader approves the suggested Action, and an entry is made into the Red Tag Log for that Work Area.

If there is ANY doubt, the item is moved into the temporary Red Tag Storage area, where it can be easily retrieved if the item proves necessary after all. When items are moved from Red Tag Storage, the Red Tag Log is updated to record the ultimate disposition.

5S Sustainment Checklist

Purpose: Checklist to monitor and manage 5S cleaning and preventative maintenance habits
to support Leader Standard Work.

Use this template for daily and weekly tasks, and use the Preventive Maintenance Checklist for tasks with a monthly cycle or greater.

This template had a major upgrade in August 2012. See what's new.

Successful Lean companies know that when top management stops paying attention - everyone else soon follows -
so your Sytems2win templates include a variety of audit checklists as important components of any well-designed lean management system.