What Is The "Sustain" Of Lean Manufacturing 5S?

By Michael Baker

In order for Lean Manufacturing to be truly effective, it takes an overall cultural change. It means harvesting a different philosophy and consistent each and every day. The employees are looking for the management at the top to lead by example, so be that leader. It is a position anyone can easily fall into because many people want to be led. You can be that person, and this is really what the sustain of lean manufacturing 5S is.

If you have done the 5S Kaizen, then you now have a problem area you attacked all out. You put together a diverse team, and made the changes needed to improve the efficiency and the moral of the area. You also have locations for all of the equipment and tools, and have even removed old equipment not needed.

Right now, you should also have someone responsible for the cleanliness of the area. And trust me, accountability is everything. When people see management stepping up, and then the middle level management and supervisors stepping up, they know this is something that will not go away.

So, to sustain this, you need to continue with your efforts. And, it does not mean stay in the same area and keep harping on the same things. Move to another area and maintain the initial momentum you built with this project. This is the real way to sustain 5S.

And, I bring it back to the management. They are in the position to really have the biggest impact possible. They are the ones that can hold the people accountable for their actions. And, they can reward the ones who stand above the rest. It is a must that is start from the top and work its way down. Do not be like so many, and practice the philosophy of do as I say, not as I do.

Through adequate communication and continuous improvement, you can absolutely sustain your 5S efforts. All of the pieces are in place already, so there really is no reason for this not to happen. Just be positive, keep a good attitude, keep the employees informed, and you should be able to sustain your 5S initiative.

Lean Manufacturing Secrets goes into detail about the different techniques and philosophies to implement a lean manufacturing 5S initiative.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Baker
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Is-The-Sustain-Of-Lean-Manufacturing-5S?&id=1058505