5S system

5S system

5S is a system that helps to organize a space to improve performance. The system allows people to organize their workspaces or environments to achieve efficiency, effectiveness, and safety. 5S aims at putting everything on its rightful place to keep the workplace organized and clean. As a result, this system assists people to reduce time wastage and incidents of accidents.

Where did it originate

5S began as part of the “Toyota Production System (TPS).” Leaders started this manufacturing technique at Toyota Company during the early and mid-20th Century (5S Today, 2020). This strategy is sometimes called Lean manufacturing, especially in the west. After the development of this system, its main objective was to increase the value of products and services for clients. This goal was attained by finding and eliminating wastes that occur during the production process.

What are the 5S’s and their definitions?

“Sort” is the first step of 5S, which entails going through all the tools, furniture, resources, and equipment to help in determining what needs to be present in the work area and what is not necessary.

Set in order is the second element of 5S, which encompasses coming up with unique strategies to analyze the left items at the workplace.

“Shine” is the third stage of the 5S system and entails cleaning up the workplace, where workers can sweep, mop, dust, wipe, or physically carry materials from one point to another.

The fourth element of the 5S system is “standardize,” which assigns regular tasks by creating schedules and posting instructions to make activities become routine.

“Sustain” is the five element of the system which encompass maintenance of the ongoing works and updating them properly.

What industries can it be used in

5S system can be used in a wide range of industries, but those that mainly deal with manufacturing and processing activities. These industries include, but not limited to, automobile, dairy, those that deal with pharmaceuticals, paper mills, and those in the health and the production of electronics.

What is the benefit of deploying and having a 5S program?

Deploying and having a 5S program is very beneficial among industries and their owners. As aforementioned, the main goal of developing the 5S system was to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in organizations and companies (5S Today, 2020). Therefore, companies enjoy improved performance and productivity since the system eliminates most of the hindrances. For instance, this system combats time wastage and disorganization of people and items at the organizational level.

What are some of the difficulties of 5S?

Failing to get the approval of removing tagged items and stuff, for instance, in the sorting stage, is a key problem that affects the system (Wilson, 2020). This situation can cause undesired delays and disorganization in the execution of the 5S program. Failing to return items and objects to their former positions is another challenge that affects the system significantly. Also, the lack of using “visual management principles” is another challenge associated with the implantation and execution of the 5S program.

Is 5S a program, philosophy, or culture?

5S program is not a philosophy, but more of a culture. Philosophy is a strategy that is based on studying concepts and theories to achieve certain goals and objectives. However, 5S is a culture since it is associated with lifestyles and how different people approach various situations in life. For example, the system entails the actual participation of people in any given organization when attending to various tasks and responsibilities aimed at improving performance (5S Today, 2020). These activities are done frequently flowing particular procedures and routines, and thus making 5S appear to be a culture at the organizational level.

What principles does 5S involve or belong to

5S involves the principles of sorting, setting in order, shining, standardizing, and sustaining. Ideally, this program entails going through everything in a space or work environment, acting appropriately, putting items and other things in order, embarking on cleaning, and coming up with procedures for doing the realized tasks on a routine.

Are there any pitfalls to 5S?

Thinking that the 5S program is only associated with housekeeping is a key pitfall for the system. Many people, especially workers, engage more in housework and forget to attend to other tasks, especially those linked with production and processing while using the system. Also, the idea of thinking that 5S is an event and not a process is another pitfall to the system. Many people conduct some elements or stages of the program and think that they experience positive results (Wilson, 2020). Such situations always cause more damages as a result of disorganization, which is usually caused by an imbalance of operations at the organizational level.