5S checklist

The 5 S's (sort, set, shine, standardise and sustain) is a Japanese approach to housekeeping in the factory. It is a method of organising, cleaning, developing, and sustaining a productive work environment.

Sort: This is about getting rid of the clutter in a factory. Only items such as necessary work tools should be in the factory environment. All other items, such as excess inventory, should be removed.

Set in Order: The Work area should be organised so that it is easy to find what is needed.

Shine: This refers to keeping the work area tidy and clean. Make it 'shine'.

Standardise: Once the most effective cleaning and sorting methods have been established, they should be used as standards for the whole factory.

Sustain: Mechanisms should be implemented to ensure that the standards achieved are recognised by everyone and used in the future.

This approach has helped businesses to improve efficiency because the work environment is less cluttered and more organised.

Sources/more information:
- Wikipedia