A 5S System is a low cost system that will clean and organize your workplace. It will increase productivity and raise employee morale. This article that will give you some basic information on how to implement a 5S system in your workplace.
One of the keys to the success of a 5S system is to have the full support of the management of your company. While a 5S system is low cost to implement, it will require changes to the work habits of employees and needs the support and reinforcement of management.
Educate Yourself on 5S
The first thing you need to do is educate yourself on 5S. Purchase books and do some research online. Write an overview of what the 5S system is and how it will be implemented in your company. Present your proposal to management for their approval.
You may meet resistance since old habits are hard to break. Explain how the 5S system is a useful tool that can improve productivity, promote safety and lower costs. Explain how the 5S system will make the workplace cleaner, safer and more pleasant for the employees. Emphasize the low cost involved to implement and the potential savings of a successful 5S system. Management loves to hear of low cost ways to save the company money!
Create a 5S System Plan and a 5S Team
Before you begin a 5S System you must plan for it. This involves walking around the workplace and taking notes. Look at how people work. How far away is the work to be done and the tools and parts used to do the work from the workstation? What is lying around that is not used? Are there any obvious work hazards? If so they should be taken care of immediately. Explore every area, ever file cabinet, ever drawer looking for items that do not belong where they are. From these notes you can map out your plan of attack.
A 5S system is a team concept. It requires the participation of everyone in order to sustain it. You should pick a core group of people from various workstations to be members of your 5S