The 5S Thinking System
Over the past several years, lean manufacturing has swept through many factories - sometimes it stays and sometimes it moves on. What is the reason behind this sustainment problem?
Within manufacturing companies around the world, thousands of people are being told that 5S is the cornerstone of lean manufacturing. How many people truly understand what that means?
How often is cleaning the primary focus of 5S in your factory? When we focus ONLY on cleaning, why are we surprised to only realize 1/5th of the potential results 5S thinking can offer?
The big unanswered question in western, mainstream 5S then is this:
if 5S is the cornerstone of Lean manufacturing, or to be more specific, Lean thinking - why is it that the primary activity we ask our people to engage in is CLEANING?
The 5S applied to ANY area are:
- Sorting out the unneeded things - keep the things required for the job.
- Setting in order the things that are needed to do the work in that area.
- Sanitizing the standards by removing contamination in the work area.
- Standardize the first three as desired thinking and acting behaviors.
- Sustain the system by training others in workplace standardization everyday.
TWI Materials
- TWI Bulletin Series
- Job Instruction
- Job Methods
- Job Relations
- Job Safety
- Problem Solving
- Program Development
- Management Training
