Tag: Lean 5S

5S Program | Excellent Tools Needed to Implement

Tools Needed to Implement a 5S Program

Tools Needed to Implement a 5S Program

Efficiency is critical in any organization as it allows you to maximize your resources and profits. But how exactly do you achieve it? Generally, the key is to streamline your processes to reduce costs and increase output. If you’re not sure where to begin, the 5S methodology is one of the best frameworks you can use to create a safer and more efficient workplace.
So, what is 5S? And what tools do you need to implement it in your company? Read more to find the answers to these key questions to get started in designing and executing a 5S program.

What is 5S?

5S is a widely used quality tool that helps improve efficiency, productivity, and safety in the workplace. This framework consists of five main steps originating from Japanese terms that begin with the letter S:
  • Seiri (sort) – Sort through everything in the workplace to remove unnecessary items that can take up space
  • Seiton (set in order) – Organize and label the sorted items logically for quick access and use in each space 
  • Seiso (shine) – Clean the sorted and organized workspace thoroughly and create a regular cleaning schedule for maintenance
  • Seiketsu (standardize) – Implement a set of standards on how the workforce can continue to apply the first three steps  
  • Shitsuke (sustain) – Sustain the new practices and conduct regular audits to maintain consistency 

Benefits of Implementing a 5S Program

5S is a highly valuable framework that adopts the “lean” philosophy to create an organized and clutter-free workplace. In turn, this leads to many other benefits, including the following:
  • Increased Efficiency. Efficiency is undoubtedly the top benefit of 5S. You naturally optimize your employee’s workflow and maximize time by eliminating distractions and putting things in the right place. As a result, you’ll be able to get more work done in less time.
  • Reduced Waste. 5S helps reduce waste in many ways. First, proper labeling and organization prevent idle time or wasted motion from looking for things. It also makes problems easier to detect and fix before they get worse. Second, proper maintenance keeps your equipment in pristine condition, ultimately prolonging its lifespan.
  • Enhanced Safety. Another significant benefit of implementing 5S is enhanced workplace safety. For example, regular cleaning helps eliminate hazards like slippery floors to prevent accidents and injuries. Other hazards can also be marked with visual indicators like signs or labels to notify employees and ensure they take proper precautions.
  • Higher Employee Morale. Employees are more likely to feel motivated when they work in a clean environment and can focus on finishing critical tasks. Also, involving employees in the 5S planning and implementation process will help them feel valued and may lead to longer-term commitment.

Tools Needed to Implement 5S

Tools Needed to Implement 5S Programs

As beneficial as a 5S program plan may be for organizations, proper implementation is key to getting good results. Fortunately, since this framework is a component of visual management, there are several tools to enforce each step effectively. Check them out below to ensure a smooth 5S program implementation.

Red tags

Red tags are helpful for the sort (seiri) step, as they allow you to categorize items easily. While they’re often used to mark items no longer needed, you can also use them for “uncertain items.” This category includes items you think aren’t necessary but aren’t sure if they should be thrown away.
The red tag allows you to note information like who, when, and why the item was tagged. After sorting, you can move all the red-tagged items into a holding area and assign someone to review them after a specific time. Once reviewed, the person in charge will decide if the item is needed or can be discarded.

Labels and Signs

Labels are one of the simplest yet most effective tools to implement a 5S program. You can label everything in the workplace, from drawers to shelves to storage units. With a proper labeling system, employees can quickly locate items and put them back where they belong.
On the other hand, signs are essential for any 5S safety program. They provide visual reminders for employees to warn them of potential dangers. In addition, signs come in various shapes, sizes, colors, and fonts, so you can easily tailor them based on your needs.

Floor Markings

Floor markings are a staple in many organizations, especially offices and production facilities. They serve many purposes, depending on the nature of your work environment. In most cases, they provide directions to employees to control foot traffic and promote easy navigation. Other times, they’re used to mark specific areas in the workplace.

Shadow Boards

Shadow boards can be used for the set-in-order (seiton) and sustain (shitsuke) phases in your 5S program. These are essentially boards containing an outline of tools to help employees figure out where to return them or see if anything’s missing. You can easily create one by getting a pegboard and tracing each tool in its respective spot to leave a silhouette.

Industrial Printers

Investing in an industrial printer makes it easier to implement 5S program. It allows you to print signs and labels readily instead of making them from a third-party supplier, so it’s much quicker and more cost-effective. In addition, you can customize the signs to your desired look for better consistency and organization.

Create an Effective 5S Program for Employee and Workplace Safety with Cobra Systems

As highlighted above, 5S programs offer tons of benefits to all types of companies, but it’s not always the easiest to implement. You’ll need an excellent 5S program and engaged employees to ensure everyone is on board and follows the new practices. This is where the professionals at Cobra Systems come in.
To help you with your 5S program implementation, Cobra Systems offers a range of industrial labels and sticker printer solutions to organize your workplace, regardless of industry. Our printers are easy to use, allowing you to create high-quality custom signs and labels without any PC. For more information on our devices and products, contact us today at 800-262-7298.
Filed under: NewsTagged with: , , , , , , , ,

How to Implement 5s in the Workplace?

5S in the workplace

Clean and organized workspaces can do wonders for your business, from increased productivity to decreased waste to optimized processes. However, as valuable as these benefits may sound, they require physical changes to your workplace to create visible results. To guide you in such a transition, you can adopt the principles of the 5S Methodology for lean manufacturing. 


Contrary to most assumptions, 5S is more than just a housekeeping tool. Instead, it’s a philosophy and culture that allows you to “think lean” and maximize efficiency in the workplace. While the five main principles are simple by theory, they aren’t as straightforward to implement. So before you rush into any new changes in the workplace, check out this guide to help you plan methodically.

 

Get to know Cobra Systems, Inc. and how we can help you.

 

What is the 5S Methodology?

To start, it’s essential to understand the 5S principles in more detail:

  • Seiri (Sort). Seiri or sort involves organizing your things in the workplace and eliminating unnecessary items that can deter your operations. This is especially important for warehouse management, given that you work with lots of inventory and equipment. 
  • Seiton (Set in Order). Seiton, which translates to set in order or systematize, means arranging the necessary items in their proper place. The goal is to ensure that people can easily find whatever they need.
  • Seiso (Shine). Next, seiso refers to cleaning your workplace regularly to prevent dirt or clutter from accumulating. Aside from maintaining a germ-free work area, this step is vital to keep your equipment in tip-top condition.
  • Seiketsu (Standardize). The fourth principle, seiketsu, involves standardizing processes to replicate the organizational principles. Having proper procedures in place sets clear expectations on how people should operate.


Shitsuke (Sustain). Of course, after going through the effort of implementing the first four principles, the last step is shitsuke—sustain. This means conducting regular audits and tracking progress for continuous improvement.

 

Let us help you with your Labeling Project  REQUEST A SAMPLE     REQUEST A QUOTE  

 

workforce with 5S implementation

Check out our products and contact us for more details;

Striker Systems

VnM Signmaker

Tapes and Supplies

Steps to Implementing 5S in the Workplace

Now that you know more about the basics of 5S, here are key steps to follow when implementing the 5S methodology for warehouse management:

Assign a reliable team to lead the initiative

Organizations often overlook this first step, with many jumping right into action and expecting everyone to do the same. However, it’s difficult to implement company-wide efforts this way since people won’t know their exact responsibilities. As a result, they’ll do whatever they see fit or do nothing due to the lack of direction.

To prevent this, assign a reliable team to lead the initiative. Ideally, you should have team members from each management level to have proper representation. This way, you can keep everyone in the loop and get input from different perspectives.

Assess the current state of the business

Once you have a team in place, the next important step is to assess how your business is currently operating. The idea here is to “set a baseline” to know what you’re starting with before you make any changes. The best way to do this is to inspect the workplace thoroughly and take note of things like:

  • How are you utilizing your warehouse space? Do unnecessary items clutter any areas?
  • Do you have accessible cleaning tools that people can use for their stations?
  • Are all the shelves, racks, and drawers labeled with their content?
  • Is it easy to find essential items or files whenever someone needs them?

Conduct training for your staff

To implement 5S successfully, all employees should know the methodology and how it works. Thus, conducting 5S training for your staff to communicate the main principles and get them acquainted with the system is crucial. This way, they can easily follow through with any changes.

Generally, it’s best to use various media to cater to different learning styles. Specifically, you should incorporate visual elements in your teaching materials to help employees understand what a clean work environment looks like. Also, ensure managers and supervisors participate in the training program to show the company’s commitment. 

Even after the formal training sessions, you can continue educating employees by posting materials around the workplace. Examples include posters outlining the 5S principles, “before and after” photo exhibits, and other relevant banners or signages.

Start with small fixes

After the initial assessment and preparations, you might be tempted to make several changes at once. However, doing so is inefficient since you lose focus and potentially use up all your resources without guaranteed results. 

Instead, start with minor fixes that you can quickly implement. Doing so creates momentum with the project and helps everyone get on board. It also allows you to gauge your efforts to identify best practices and address mistakes so that future efforts will go smoothly. Examples of initiatives include:

  • Floor Markings. Floor markings help keep your workplace organized by directing foot traffic. For example, you can mark the routes to shelves to help people save time and get to their destination quickly.
  • Safety Signs. Safety signs prevent accidents and injury by warning employees of potential hazards, denoting prohibited areas, providing instructions, and reminding them to take caution. 
  • Cleaning Routine. If you don’t already have a cleaning routine, implement one immediately so that employees get used to it. Instilling this habit will help everyone adopt the 5S culture more easily.
  • Labels. Next, you can label important boxes, shelves, and aisles to make it easier to locate certain things. 

Measure results

Finally, don’t forget to measure the results of your efforts. Remember that implementing 5S is an ongoing effort, so you should constantly track your progress and plan future improvements. You can even get your employees involved by asking them for recommendations on other initiatives you can do.

 

For more support; Product Registration and RMA Request

 

Use Cobra System’s High-Quality Industrial Printers for 5S Implementation

Proper education is one of the most important aspects of a successful 5S Methodology implementation. Before anything else, everyone in the organization should understand the framework and its principles. 

To help you out, Cobra Systems offers high-quality industrial printers to support your 5S program needs. Our printers make it easy and convenient to create signs, labels, floor markings, and other materials to organize your work area. Call us today at (805) 243-3335 to get in touch for more information.

 

Want to explore more of the areas we support?

Workplace Safety

5S Program

Lean Implementation

Warehouse Distribution

 

 

Filed under: NewsTagged with: , , , , , , , ,

What is 5S: Ultimate Guide To The 5S System

5s methodology

Every workplace has its own set of systems and management techniques to create an efficient work environment. However, there seems to be one specific methodology that stands out: the 5S Methodology. But what is this 5S system?

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), over 100 deaths a week in the workplace were recorded during 2019. In most cases, these accidents in the workplace happen due to unsafe working conditions.

Of course, safety can be challenging to maintain, especially in hazardous industries. But it’s not impossible.

You can create a safe workspace for employees while maximizing productivity and profit. One example is adopting a new system or protocol that can transform every workplace into an organized, efficient, and safe environment. One such system is called the 5S methodology.

So, here is everything you need to know about the 5S principle and approach and why every workplace should adopt this system.

What Is 5S?

5S refers to a systematic work methodology that uses visual management to build a quality work environment. It involves 5 steps that workers need to follow systematically to create an efficient workplace with fewer injuries and wasted downtimes.

Furthermore, its purpose is to maintain order and cleanliness within the workplace to yield maximum productivity and value.

What Does 5S Stand For?

what is 5s methodology

Originally, 5S comes from 5 Japanese terms starting with the letter S: Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke. Below is the 5S Japanese to English translation and their definitions.

Japanese word English Translation English Version Definition
Seiri organized  

Sort

 Sorting through materials to remove unnecessary things from each workplace area.
Seiton orderliness  

Set in Order

 Organize the remaining items in a way that will make tasks easier to do.
Seiso cleanliness  Shine Keep each work area clean and orderly.
Seiketsu standardize  

Standardize

 Turn seiri, seiton, and seiso into a permanent work routine by standardizing them. 
Shitsuke discipline  

Sustain

 Maintain discipline to sustain the newly placed standard procedures.

How Does The 5S Methodology Work?

The 5S method focuses on removing clutter and waste in each working area. Its goal is to give a designated place for necessary materials in the workplace to achieve organization and orderliness.

As a result, workers can enjoy a safe working space where they can do their jobs efficiently and productively. The 5S approach aims to do this by following a specific five-pronged methodology: the Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain.

This framework can only work if it’s implemented in its proper sequence. Generally, it will start by removing the clutter and waste in the workplace and organizing the remaining essential items. Next is to clean and inspect the recently-organized work area regularly. Then comes the standardization of the best practices implemented, performing maintenance, and maintaining discipline until 5S becomes a habit.

This methodology applies in any workplace, whether it’s in a healthcare facility or a factory. It is designed to improve an industry’s working environment, which enhances the workers, their output, and the company’s profit and image. 

5S: Before and After Implementation

Here’s a good example of what 5S looks like in action even in a simple desk workspace:

a comparison between two desks before and after 5s implementation

Before 5S, you can see the space as a complete mess of jumbled documents and other office materials. But after implementing 5S, everything is in its proper place with labeled folders to organize and easily track the documents. Plus, there’s now a clean open space where work can be done efficiently. 

Now, imagine this kind of system implemented in a larger setting, such as huge storage locations or factories. Wouldn’t that be a pleasant sight that encourages productivity and safety?

Origin of the 5S System 

Initially, the 5S system started as a part of the “Toyota Production System or TPS” built by the leaders of Toyota Industries (previously known as Toyoda Automatic Loom Works). 

The company created TPS during the early 20th century to solve its increasing manufacturing waste and inefficiencies. The TPS system involves many methodologies that we now know as jidoka, just-in-time manufacturing, kaizen, kanban, and 5S. 

In fact, the 5S became a foundational part of TPS and Toyota, where they believe a clean and organized working environment can consistently yield the best results.

As TPS began to significantly change Toyota Industries for the better, many businesses and industry experts studied the system and implemented it in different workplaces. 

Finally, a JIT expert and engineering educator named Hiroyuki Hirano devised the five pillars of the visual workplace inspired by the TPS and other methodologies within the system. This then evolved into a concept that we now came to know as the 5S methodology.

The 5S system gained more importance as it became the foundation of another systematic methodology called Lean Manufacturing Techniques. Now, 5S can often be heard together with Lean since the former serves as an organizational tool for the latter.

What Are The Benefits of Lean 5S?

Implementing the Lean 5S in the workplace allows both the company and its workers to reap several benefits, such as:

  • Less clutter – organizing the work area and removing unnecessary items results in less clutter and better space storage.
  • Increased work productivity and less idle time – without all that clutter, employees can now do their jobs efficiently and become more productive during their work time. 
  • Improved quality and consistency – standardization of work processes and procedures means decreased product or service mistakes and variations.
  • A safer workplace – a well-organized and clean workplace makes way for a safe working space.
  • Improved employee satisfaction – 5S ensures seamless work processes and procedures, boosting employee morale and satisfaction. 

How Do You Use 5S in the Workplace?

The 5S system is more than just a concept or a five-letter acronym. It is a hands-on tool that establishes workplace organization to benefit both the company and the employees. 

So, here’s an in-depth look at the step-by-step process of the 5S system that safety officers, managers, and business owners can implement.

Sort

worker labeling boxes

The first step of the 5S methodology is the Sort/Seiri. This step aims to clean the working area by removing clutter, waste, and other things that add NO value to a space. 

The ultimate goal of the Sort step is to clear the workspace of unnecessary items to provide an area where you can carry out the next 4S steps. Here’s how it works:

  • The first thing you need to do is go through every item in the working station to evaluate its importance.
  • Use some guide questions to know which items need to stay or be removed. Some examples include: “How frequently do we use this material?” or “When was the last time this tool was used?”

To accurately sort the items, it’s important to categorize them in four ways:

  • Keep – items in this category are essential to your workplace’s daily operations.
  • Remove – unnecessary items that need to be thrown away to make more space in the working area (e.g., broken tools, expired chemicals).
  • Probation – during sorting, you will likely encounter some unknown items on the way. In this case, it’s important to note these materials or “red-tag” them and keep them in a separate space. Other employees may assess the red-tagged items to see if there are items that originally belong to their workstations. Items may only be placed in the probation area for a specific number of days. After that, you need to either sell, recycle, or discard them.
  • Recycle – items in this category are those that may still be useful for other employees or departments in the workplace. 

It’s important to remember that the best people to do the “sorting” process should be the ones who actually use the working area.

Set in Order

orderly workplace

Next is the Set in Order step, wherein workers should organize the remaining items in the work area. Here are some pro tips on how to organize things efficiently:

  • Arrange the tools, materials, or equipment in a systematic and logical way. This means that you should think about the specific tasks that the items will be used for when arranging them. For example, you should place tools near the place where it’s frequently used. Or store materials in a central location if other teams need to share them. 
  • Make sure to arrange materials in a way that makes sense. This way, employees can work seamlessly without obstructions or blocking one another.
  • Utilize a 5S diagram or floorplan to strategically arrange large pieces of equipment or storage areas. You can also use shadow boards that feature the outline of specific materials so people will get familiar with their rightful place.
  • Another consideration you should make is the people who work in the area. For example, are they tall, short, left-handed, or right-handed.
  • Once everything has its designated place, it’s time to label their storage bins and specific locations. 

Shine

out of service tag for broken equipment

Shine or seiso refers to the “cleaning” phase of the 5S methodology. Once the clutter has been removed, and everything’s arranged, it’s time to remove the dirt and polish the working space. 

The Shine phase’s main goal is to clean the workspace to work efficiently while producing quality products or services. Furthermore, Shine also makes cleaning a habit that every worker should do regularly. Some examples include regularly sweeping the area, weekly quality control checks, or monthly tools and equipment maintenance. 

Additionally, a thorough and regular cleaning eventually leads to a safer work environment. Plus, regular maintenance will make it easier to spot problems or defects before they even get out of hand.

Standardize

woman setting boxes in order

Standardize or seiketsu simply refers to the standardization of the practices implemented in Sort, Set in Order, and Shine. The Standardize phase is where you will make everything official by putting it into writing, such as creating an SOP or standard operating procedure. 

Having a standard procedure or process for everything helps people maintain cleanliness and orderliness. Moreover, the best practices implemented will become the universally understood system for every employee, which helps maintain the consistency and quality of every output.

Additionally, standardization helps prevent both employees and employers from sliding back to their old habits. Here are some pro tips on how you can easily enforce this in the workplace:

  • Create daily, weekly, and monthly schedules so workers can get familiar with their daily tasks before, during, and after their work duties.
  • Create an individual step-by-step procedure for every work process, or you can use a checklist.
  • Provide visual cues of procedures or steps to remind employees working in that specific station. Some visual tools to use include labels, posters, floor marking tape, and tool organizers.

But remember, standardization of procedures should not be set in stone. Companies should be open to changing their SOPs if the current ones don’t serve their purpose anymore. 

Sustain

employees walking inside the warehouse

Lastly, there’s Sustain or shitsuke, which means discipline. This phase focuses on cementing all implemented practices to make them a habit. Moreover, Sustain encourages workers and employers to keep all the steps and rules in the previous 5S to maintain a smooth-sailing working environment.

The main goal here is to establish discipline and commitment among everyone for continuous improvement. Here are some pro tips on how to execute Sustain and yield positive results:

  • Both employees and employers should abide by the rules or systems in place.
  • Companies should invest in seminars and training that can help employees follow the standardized procedure in their work areas. 
  • Tools and equipment needed in specific working stations should also be provided to get jobs done correctly. 
  • Create specific objectives and measurable goals to track the progress of the implemented 5S system. You can also implement regular audits to assess workplace efficiency. 
  • Establish employee performance evaluations to see if the system works. Make sure to celebrate great team performances and make it a point to get their feedback on the implemented 5S system.

The 6th S: Safety

workplace safety - safety first sign

Companies can reap plenty of benefits by successfully implementing the 5S system in the workplace. One of the best outcomes that the 5S lean manufacturing method can achieve is the 6th S, which is Safety.

Furthermore, safety can also stand on its own and be implemented in the workplace as a 6th S. This phase prioritizes employees’ physical and mental safety in their workspace. It aims to give value to human resources by removing potential risks and hazards that come with labor. 

This can range from simply labeling chemicals or eliminating waste to providing quality HVAC systems to avoid aerosol contamination in clinical laboratories. 

Aside from valuing the safety of your workers, it’s also mandated by the law to keep the workplace free from safety hazards. 

How To Implement The 5S System

After understanding the positive effects and impact of the 5S Methodology in a company, it’s time to implement it. Fortunately, a successful implementation only requires the open willingness, cooperation, and contribution of two parties一both employers and employees.

These two should have a unified goal and the heart to put in enough effort to make the 5S system work. Here is some information on what tools and techniques can successfully help launch, implement, and sustain the 5S method in your workplace.

Who Is Involved in 5S?

The simple answer would be everyone. It’s true that employee involvement plays a critical role in the success of 5S, but so does the participation of company leaders (e.g., manager, supervisor) and business owners. 

Other team members may play a bigger role in the implementation, but that doesn’t mean that other workers won’t be involved. This way, there would be no confusion, and everyone in the company would be up-to-date with significant changes.

What Industries Can Benefit From 5S?

workers with tools

Popular industries that already implement the 5S system are manufacturing companies, factories, warehousing, and related industries. But of course, other industries can also significantly improve their work quality and efficiency by using the 5S. Some specific ventures include:

  • Healthcare industry
  • Hotel and restaurant industry
  • Office jobs
  • Information and communication technology
  • Housekeeping or homemaking services
  • Grocery, market, and retail stores

5S Training

Everyone in the company should receive proper training in 5S methodology一from entry-level workers to the upper management department. The 5S training should cover the important pillars of the 5S system, its application, the role of each staff member, and how it can benefit both the company and its employees.

Companies may conduct the training in a classroom setting, virtually, or by using actual demonstrations in the working area.

Additionally, 5S training should be done whenever there are updates or changes in the company SOP and for new employees.

Common 5S Visual Tools

One of the essential parts of implementing the 5S system in the workplace is visual tools. 5S and visual cues work hand-in-hand to create a clean and orderly place that generates productivity within the workers. 

Visual communication tools definitely help people get familiar with spaces and make a place more well-organized. Plus, having these visual reminders and tools greatly reduces the health and safety risks, especially in dangerous work settings.

You can make your work setting a visual workplace by using some of these helpful visual cues:

Floor Marking Tape

You can usually find floor marking tapes in large facilities since OSHA requires some industries to have this. Floor markings are brightly-colored adhesive tapes used in floors to divide spaces, mark hazards, and provide directions. 

floor marking tape

Industrial Printers

Another helpful tool that makes visual communication easier is industrial printers. These high-tech devices allow you to print out different kinds of industrial labels, safety signs, and stickers. You can use them to create a visual workplace by labeling hazardous chemicals or the contents of a specific cabinet. You can even print standardized labeling tags or signs without the help of a PC using the VnM4 Pro Signmaker. 

Vnm8 industrial printer

Shadow Boards 

A shadow board refers to an organizing tool that outlines the shape of a material to indicate its designated place. This helps workers identify where to place specific tools or what items are missing.

shadow board

Toolbox Foam

A toolbox foam is like a shadow board, except that the latter uses a foam that has its top layer cut out. This way, workers can easily fit specific tools inside the foam to organize and protect them from damages.

Costs Involved with 5S Implementation

Costs may vary depending on the size of the company and how you plan to execute it. But here are two kinds of expenses that your business will probably encounter when starting and implementing the 5S system:

  • Redirected labor cost – providing training for the workers will definitely result in loss of labor hours, which
  • the company can quickly recoup.
  • Cost of materials and goods – this pertains to the expenses your business will probably make to successfully implement 5S, such as visual tools and storage containers.

FAQs About 5S

What is the purpose of 5S?

Ultimately, the 5S system aims to achieve workplace safety, organization, work efficiency, and maximum productivity.

How can 5S be used in different industries?

The 5S methodology isn’t limited to industrial and manufacturing facilities. Any company in every industry can implement it by following the step-by-step process of the 5S so you can discover the solution to your workplace problems.

How does 5S help the business to grow?

Successfully implementing and continuing the 5S program allows companies to increase their productivity and reduce wasted resources. This, in turn, will help the business grow and thrive in its industry.

How does 5S improve safety?

5S enforces cleanliness and orderliness in the workplace to reduce or eliminate safety hazards and health risks.

Is 5S different from kaizen?

Kaizen’s goal is to increase efficiency by making “continuous improvement.” On the other hand, 5S improves efficiency by eliminating waste to establish order and productivity. But they do go hand-in-hand in implementing the lean manufacturing system.

Is there a difference between 5S and Six Sigma?

5S is a strategy that lays down the framework to achieve improvement in all areas of the workplace. It starts from cleaning, organizing, maintaining, and then standardization of these processes. 

On the other hand, six sigma focuses on improving work processes by determining the problem area or removing defects. 

Who should implement 5S?

Companies that want to boost their work productivity, efficiency, and profit can benefit by implementing the 5S.

Why does 5S fail sometimes?

Some factors that can cause the 5S methodology to fail include: wavering employee commitment, lack of direction, and lack of financial resources.

Where do I start with 5S?

Start by understanding how 5S can benefit your company or organization. Next is to pitch the idea to the management and get support from them. From there, you can easily follow the 5S implementation using the details discussed above.

workers sorting boxes

Conclusion

A detailed understanding of the 5S process and 5S procedures brings you one step closer to achieving operational efficiency. So, if you think the 5S methodology can positively benefit your company, then we’re happy to offer our services to you. 

Cobra Systems is the leading provider of unique industrial printing solutions. We can help your company implement the 5S system or lean manufacturing by supplying high quality printers for your 5S signs and labels.

Additionally, our company currently supports customers for their 5S signage that operate within warehousing, distribution, shipping, and logistics.

Get started with your very own stand-alone, seamless signage and label printing solutions by giving us a call at 805-243-3462.

Filed under: 5S Methodology, Blog, NewsTagged with: ,