5S Manufacturing Means More Efficiency in the
Plant
To improve the efficiency of manufacturing there needs to involvement by employees who are vested in efficiency.
With implementation of 5S manufacturing environments will improve. With elimination of waste there is a cleaner,
safer environment.
It is possible to set up such a workplace by following a manual. It will take a team to make changes. This team
will need to become skilled in motivating others to engage in change for the better. While it may be very
challenging it is possible to create a more efficient environment.
Anyone who has worked in industry may be best able to relate to 5S manufacturing. The five basic components
of 5S can actually be used anywhere.
With the 5S’s: Workplace Organization web-based training course,
you will learn the fundamental concepts of the 5S’s that will improve quality and productivity. The training
includes step-by-step guidelines for achieving the 5S’s as well as a roadmap to implement the 5S’s throughout the
entire organization. Many examples of 5S success stories are included throughout the training.
The main idea of 5S is to take a disorganized environment and organize it for better, more efficient
productivity. 5S is based on 5 areas of importance.
1. Sort
2. Straighten
3. Sweep
4. Standardize
5. Sustain
Sorting is the process of taking anything that is not used regularly and red tagging it. The red tagged
items are then placed in a central area. If any item is not used regularly but is needed then it is placed in a
storage area. This could allow for a substantial amount of space to be available.
Straightening requires taking the sorted items from the first step and creating a workable storage system.
This may mean labeling bins and wall boards to make sure there is a place for everything. It is also helpful to
get into the habit of putting items in their new homes.
Sweeping is the process of removing all clutter. It is crucial that this be done on a daily basis for safety
and getting rid of waste. It is vital to stay focused on goals for this process.
Standardizing is the process of taking the first three of the 5S process and setting up procedures to
follow. The purpose is to keep the work area pristine.
Sustaining means to keep the 5S manufacturing environment consistently clean and productive some bad habits
may have to change. This is the hardest part of the 5S process. Sustain maintains the standards and is in
charge of setting the bar for excellence.
The 5S manufacturing set up has been practiced and found to be an excellent choice for improving the work
environment. With the action of dedicated workers it will be possible and essential to maintain the necessary
standards.

If you want to learn how to use the lean process, I highly recommend the Lean Manufacturing
web-based training course. You will get a thorough understanding of all the components of lean manufacturing,
including Value Stream Mapping, six sigma, 5S and much more.
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