In any productive workspace there are four types of things – the things used to create your product (inventory), the things needed to convert the inventory into product (tools), the furnishings and tables and shelves to hold the first and second types of things, and everything else. It is the last category, “everything else”, that we are here to discuss.
Category Archives: 5S for Christmas
2nd S – Set in Order (Seiton)
Merry Christmas! I know loads of folks won’t see this because of the holidays, but I’m trying to be consistent. We’ve come a long way in reverse, walking backwards through the 5S’s. Today let’s talk about Set in Order. This comes out of the Japanese Seiton which technically applies more to neatness than order, butContinue reading “2nd S – Set in Order (Seiton)”
3rd S – Shine (Seiso)
According to the original book “The 5S’s” by Takashi Osada the elements breakdown thusly: Seiri (Organization) Seiton (Neatness) Seiso (Cleaning) Seiketsu (Standardization) Shitsuke (Discipline) The condition of your environment is a direct reflection of your value for the space. When I was introduced to the quintuplets the English translations had been tweaked to also haveContinue reading “3rd S – Shine (Seiso)”
4th S – Standardize (Seiketsu)
We’re working backwards through the 5S’s. Last essay was on Sustain, or how to make the 5S’s “stick”. This time let’s look at what “Standardize” is all about and how to apply it. Standardize can mean several things, but the original intent (as far as I can tell) is to find visual management tools toContinue reading “4th S – Standardize (Seiketsu)”
5th S – Sustain (Shitsuke)
Consistency is a problem. Not just in engineering, but universally – finding ways to do something the same way every time is tricky. Trying to get a group to accomplish this feat is even trickier. It takes weeks of practice to get a marching band to look – and sound – as polished as theyContinue reading “5th S – Sustain (Shitsuke)”
Important tools – 5S
Where did 5S come from? What is the purpose? Why is this not taught in college? It’s fun researching the roots of 5S. Some websites suggest the core fundamentals are traced back to Italy in the 1500’s. That aside, the structured practice of the five elements – Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, Shitsuke – reportedly cameContinue reading “Important tools – 5S”
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