Red Barn with Title "A Place for Everything"

A Place for Everything: What is 5S?

I grew up on a farm in northeast Kansas.  Like most farmers, my dad has a small shop filled with tools so he can quickly fix machinery when it breaks down.  He encouraged me and my siblings to hang out in the shop when he was there so we would learn how machines worked and how to fix broken equipment.

He had two rules that must be followed at all times.

        Rule One: Be safe.   

        Rule Two:  If you use a tool, put it back where it belongs.

If you didn't follow these two rules, you would lose shop privileges.

I didn't realize until several years later when I learned the 5S methodology myself, that although he didn't know it, my dad practices the principles of 5S.  5S is a Lean concept based upon Japanese principles of good housekeeping.  But 5S is more than just keeping things neat and tidy.  It is an early step in building efficient, successful processes in your workplace and is a low-cost approach to improvement in your business.

Here are the definitions of the 5 S's:

  • Sort:  Identify and remove all unnecessary items from the workplace area.
  • Simplify/Straighten:  Find the proper place for everything, and put everything in its place.
  • Sweep/Shine:  Clean the area and make sure everything works before storing it.
  • Standardize:  Set expectations for maintaining the cleaned space.  Make the rules, follow the rules, and enforce the rules.
  • Sustain/Self-Discipline:  Make it a part of daily expectations so that the team never slips back into bad habits. 

Just a note:  although it was not part of the original 5S's, the concept of safety has been established in the manufacturing world as the sixth S.    I consider safety as a given standard and should be assumed included in all processes.

5S uses proven techniques whether in Dad's shop or in a hospital storage room.  Let's get to work.  Check back for more articles as I discuss each of these concepts separately.

FYI... my 83 year old dad recently expanded his small shop and he still practices the principles of 5S.

© 2020 Nancy Koftan.  All rights reserved.

Farmers know the importance of doing more with less. Dad understands the importance of efficiency and organization.

Here's my Dad in his favorite place.

Farmers know the importance of doing more with less.  Dad understands the importance of efficiency and organization.

FYI...my 83 year old dad recently expanded his shop and he still practices the principles of 5S.