5S

Japanese English Brief Description

SEIRI SORT Take out unnecessary
items and dispose

SEITON SYSTEMATIZE Arrange necessary

items in good order for
use

SEISO SWEEP Clean your workplace

SEIKETSU SANITIZE Maintain high

standard of
housekeeping

SHITSUKE SELF DISCIPLINE Do things

spontaneously
without being told or
ordered
HOW TO
PRACTICE 5S
SEIRI (SORT), MEANS, TAKE OUT
UNNECESSARY ITEMS AND DISPOSE.

Step 1. Look around your workplace with your

colleagues. Discover and identify items which are
unnecessary to your work.. . . .Then, dispose all
unnecessary itemsNEVER KEEP ANYTHING
WHICH ARE UNNECESSARY TO YOUR
WORKPLACE!!!

Step 2. If you and your colleagues cannot decide

if an item is necessary or unnecessary, put
Disposal Notice with the date on the item
and.Set the item aside.
 Step 3. After a period, say three months, check if
someone needed the item or not. If no one needed
the item for three months, that means the item is
not needed for your work. When you cannot
decide yourselves, you can make the time to
make decision.
NOTE :

1. In this sorting operation, you must not

forget inside all drawers, lockers and
cabinets.
2. Disposal can be done in either of the
following :
a. Sell to outside company
b. Move to other department/place
where the item is needed
c. Throw it away, or dispose as
garbage
d. In disposing item, it is best to make people
know who has the authority for disposal

e. It is also better to make known to all where to

return excessive stock of materials and supplies

f. While looking around for unnecessary items in

your workplace, look at every nook and corner
like when you are looking for cockroaches!

REMEMBER, it will be a BONUS to you if you

found some useful items!
SEITON (SYSTEMATIZE) MEANS,
NECESSARY ITEMS IN GOOD ORDER FOR USE.

Step 1. Make sure all unnecessary items are eliminated from

your workplace
Then, think of what things should be put where, taking into
account the flow of your work, movements of equipments, if
there are any, from the point of view of safe and efficient
operation.

Step 2. Then decide with your colleagues which

things to put where also from the point of view
of safe and efficient operation. The principle is to put most
frequently needed item close to the user so as to minimize
the movement of the person. Things which are not so often
used could be placed farther away. You make a plan with
your colleagues based on these principles and locate things
accordingly.
Step 3. It is necessary to make sure that everyone at
your workplace know what are kept where for efficient
use. Make a list of things with their locations and put
it in cabinets/lockers. Label each drawer/cupboard to
show what is kept inside.

Step 4. Apply the same principles and indicate the places

where fire extinguishers are located, exits/entrances
and whenever necessary, warning signs for safety
precautions.

Note:
1. objective of SEITON is to make your workplace a safe
and efficient place to work in. So, such a thing as a
curtain on the cupboard which hide things behind
should be eliminated.
SEISO (SWEEP)
MEANS, CLEAN
YOUR WORKPLACE.

There is very strong correlation between

quality of products and cleanliness of the
workplace where the product or service is
manufactured. Accordingly, SEISO (Sweep)
should be practiced everyday, and sometimes,
even during the day.
 Do not wait until things get dirty. Clean your workplace, including
machines and equipments, tools and furniture, regularly so that
they do not have the chance to get dirty.

Put aside 3 minutes everyday for SEISO

You and your colleagues should be responsible for the work area
around you.

The janitors and sweepers will, then, look after the common areas
only. If you hope to work in clean and safe environment, it is best for
you to create such environment

Never throw anything and make it your habit

Cleaning is also checking

If you agree, start today.

 Note:

1. In addition to 3 minutes for SEISO (sweep) everyday,

you can have weekly 5S time, or monthly 5S day.
Benefits of practicing 5S is much bigger than the
time spent for 5S.
2. Regular cleaning and checking extends the lives of
machines and reduces breakdowns
3. Practice of SEISO (Sweep) by the people of the work
area reduces needs foe maintenance staff and
janitors/sweepers. Those people could be shifted to
more productive work.
SEIKETSU (SANITIZE) MEANS, MAINTAIN
HIGH STANDARD OF HOUSEKEEPING

So as not to waste your efforts, do not stop after

implementing the initial 3Ss
Create a maintenance system for Housekeeping.
Make a schedule for cleaning for your workplace.
Interdepartmental competition is a very effective
means of sustaining and enhancing peoples
interest on 5S
 Note:

1. Indicate the name(s) of the person who is responsible

for the work area and for the machine
2. Regular inspection and evaluation by a special 5S
committee members on the level of 4S by each work
area is necessary
3. Do not criticize poor cases, but also praise and
commend good practices or good performers.
SHITSUKE (SELF DISCIPLINE) MEANS, DO
THINGS SPONTANEOUSLY WITHOUT BEING
TOLD OR ORDERED.

It is to make everyone practice 4S spontaneously

and willingly as habit or way of life.

There is no other way to foster such culture than

practicing 4Ss regularly until such time comes
when everyone becomes fond of 5S
How:

1. Treat your workplace as your (own) second home.

2. You are spending more of your WAKING TIME at
your workplace than at home.
3. Your workplace is an important place where you
make money for your self and your family.
4. If you hope your home to be clean and comfortable
place, why dont you try to make your workplace as
clean and comfortable as your home.

Managerial people should show good examples

WHAT CAN YOU GAIN FROM 5S
A. INDIVIDUAL
1. 5s Makes Your Workplace More Pleasant
in practicing 5S, you have to start from discussing and agreeing
with your colleagues what items are necessary and
unnecessary.

Then you have to discuss and agree what to put where for
efficient use by everyone. And, you have to clean the workplace
together with your colleagues

Such process will foster better human relations among co-

employees

In addition, you will see favorable changes in the working

environment as 5S progresses

Improved human relations and working environment will make

your workplace pleasant.
2. 5S Makes Your Workplace More Efficient

If you have to look for something and if you have to spend

so much time finding it, you are not only wasting your time.
You are wasting your energy and morale, too.

On the other hand, if everything at your workplace is

arranged in good order and easily available for use, your
workflow will always be smooth.

It not only improves your efficiency but also improves the

rhythm of your work

Then you will enjoy your work more.

If you have to work, it is better if you can enjoy it.

3. 5S Improves Your Safety

A clean and tidy environment where everything is

properly placed, clear instructions are readily
available and no one throws anything is a safer place
to work with

Practice of 5S improves your own safety

You can enjoy your work more with less risk

4. 5S Improves Quality of Your Work and Your
Product/Services

People affect environment

On the other hand the environment also affects people

If you are accustomed to work in a clean and tidy

environment, you can develop your sensitivity so that
you can feel and identify any defect in work.
On the contrary, messy and untidy environment will
adversely affect your sensitivity
B. COMPANY

5S is not only a matter of Housekeeping. It is an

integrated approach for productivity improvement and
ensures P Q C D S M to the organization which
practices 5S:
P : 5S increases PRODUCTION

Q : 5S improves QUALITY

C : 5S reduces COSTS

D : 5S makes DELIVERY on time

S : 5S improves SAFETY

M : 5S improves MORALE