What Is The First Step Towards Organizational Discipline & Productivity? It is 5S

Sadashiv Borgaonkar Author

What Is The First Step Towards Organizational Discipline & Productivity? It is 5S. Here are the simple steps of, what is the first step towards org...

What Is The First Step Towards Organizational Discipline & Productivity? It is 5S 

In order to participate in the global economy and compete against companies that are advantaged by overseas production, businesses are looking to find ways to reduce cost, improve quality and increase productivity. 

For this reason, businesses are implementing lean manufacturing, which allows for improvements in productivity while increasing the quality of the output. 

Lean manufacturing systems use minimal amounts of resources to produce high volume of high-quality goods with some variety, allowing companies to make better use of available resources. 

The 5S process is one of the most fundamental and widely applied components of lean manufacturing. Its application is simple, involving basic common sense; however, the advantages cannot be underestimated due to its simplicity. 

Once implemented a 5S system can be the stabilizing force underlying a lean manufacturing strategy. 

But what is really 5S? 

5S is an acronym for five Japanese words that are Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu and Shitsuke. Or it can be said as Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize & Sustain. 

Why implement 5S first? Reasons are:

• Implementation is comparatively easier for beginners of Kaizen programs.
• Everyone likes a clean and organized workplace.
• Results (fruits of efforts) are visible to everyone.
• More space will be created.
• Searching time will be reduced.
• Reaching distance will be shortened.
• The lifespan of machines and equipment will be extended.
• The workplace will be a healthy and safe place for people to work in.
• Errors will take place less often.
• Everyone will be automatically disciplined.
• Investment for the program is very little.
• Appreciation comes from customers.
• By doing things better everyone becomes creative.
• Organization’s image improves.
• Everyone becomes proud of his workplace.
• Overall performance of the organization increases.
• The environment for a great productivity program will be established. 

It gives a direction towards what needs to be done in order to achieve sustained levels of productivity improvements. In short, it inculcates a sense of DISCIPLINE in the ways of doing work in every area of the organization. 

So, 5S is a very popular productivity improvement program in Japan today, and is becoming popular in many other countries for the following reasons:

• The workplace becomes clean and better organized.
• Results are visible to everyone - insiders and outsiders.
• Visible results enhance the generation of more, and new ideas.
• People are naturally disciplined.
• Operations on the shop-floor and office become easier and safer.
• People become proud of their clean and organized workplace.

As a result the company’s good image generates more business.

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Sadashiv Borgaonkar,

Founder

ACTSol's eLearning Institute

Categories: Operational Excellence