7S

Methodology

What is the 7S Methodology?

7S Methodology
The 7S Methodology is a workplace organization
method that aims to organize the workplace for
efficiency and effectiveness.
This focuses both on aesthetics and standard
operational
practices
to
ensure
efficient,
repeatable, and safe ways fo working.

7S Methodology
The 7S Methodology is an expanded form of the
original 5S.
The 7S process now includes: Sort, Set in Order,
Standardize, Shine, Safety and Security, and
Spirit.

Seiri / Sort
Sort is the first step. It refers to the sorting of the
clutter from the other items within the work area
that are actually needed.
This stage requires the team to remove all items
that clearly do not belong in the working area and
only leave those that are required for the
processes in question.

How can you apply Sort to

improve your work efficiency
and reduce stress?

Seiton / Set in Order /

Straighten
Straighten is the process of taking the required items
that are remaining after the removal of clutter and
arranging them and ensuring that every item has a
place and that everything is in its place.
This is about more than just organizing the work area.
The primary objective of this step is to arrange
equipment and supplies in a way that optimizes
process efficiency.

How can you apply Straighten

to improve your work efficiency
and reduce stress?

Seiso / Sweep / Shine

Also called Cleanliness or Scrub, this third step addresses
the importance of routine cleaning and organizing of the
work area, typically at the end of each shift or workday.
Cleaning is not something that is done only when the
mess goes beyond a threshold of tolerance, but rather
consistently throughout operations. This ensures that
items are where they should be and in usable condition
and that there is no cumulative increase in disorder.

How can you apply Shine to

improve your work efficiency
and reduce stress?

Seiketsu / Standardize
Standardize is the process of ensuring that what we have done
within the first three stages become standardized that is we
ensure that we have common standards and ways of working.
It is only through standardization of the first three steps that
companies can be sure expectations are clear and
communicated effectively and that procedures are followed
consistently. This typically involves written documentation,
which may include schedules and role descriptions.

How can you apply Standardize

to improve your work efficiency
and reduce stress?

Shitsuke / Sustain
Sustain is the process of ensuring that the
company continue to continually improve using
the previous stages, maintain housekeeping, and
conduct audits and so forth.
This also ensures that everyone is able to
maintain focus on this new way and do not allow a
gradual decline back to the old ways.

How can you apply Sustain to

improve your work efficiency
and reduce stress?

Safety and Security

This component of 7S simply requires attention to
safety throughout the other steps. It is particularly
prominent in manufacturing and laboratory
settings, and in other contexts where potentially
dangerous equipment or substances may be
involved, and less prominent in office settings.

How can you apply Safety to

improve your work efficiency
and reduce stress?

Spirit
As leaders understand the impact of company culture
and the importance of respect for employees, the need
for this additional component becomes clear.
While some organizations successfully implement the
traditional 5S method, many are choosing to add Spirit
as an additional piece to make explicit the reliance on
the people factor and the need to continually keep it in
mind as other steps are undertaken.

How can you apply Spirit to

improve your work efficiency
and reduce stress?

Questions?